Subjecting a graphene monolayer to tension and compression.

The mechanical behaviour of graphene flakes under both tension and compression is examined using a cantilever-beam arrangement. Two different sets of samples were employed involving flakes just supported on a plastic bar but also embedded within the plastic substrate. By monitoring the shift of the 2D Raman line with strain, information on the stress transfer efficiency as a function of stress sign and monolayer support were obtained. In tension, the embedded flake seems to sustain strains up to 1.3%, whereas in compression there is an indication of flake buckling at about 0.7% strain. The retainment of such a high critical buckling strain confirms the relative high flexural rigidity of the embedded monolayer.

[1]  R. Nemanich,et al.  First- and second-order Raman scattering from finite-size crystals of graphite , 1979 .

[2]  R. Day,et al.  Strain dependence of the Raman frequencies for different types of carbon fibres , 1987 .

[3]  C. Galiotis,et al.  Characterization of PAN-based carbon fibres with laser Raman spectroscopy , 1996, Journal of Materials Science.

[4]  Syassen,et al.  Graphite under pressure: Equation of state and first-order Raman modes. , 1989, Physical review. B, Condensed matter.

[5]  K. Novoselov,et al.  Rayleigh imaging of graphene and graphene layers. , 2007, Nano letters.

[6]  D. Batchelder,et al.  Strain dependences of the first- and second-order Raman spectra of carbon fibres , 1988 .

[7]  Zhenhua Ni,et al.  Raman Mapping Investigation of Graphene on Transparent Flexible Substrate: The Strain Effect , 2008 .

[8]  Andre K. Geim,et al.  Raman spectrum of graphene and graphene layers. , 2006, Physical review letters.

[9]  Ted Belytschko,et al.  Finite crystal elasticity of carbon nanotubes based on the exponential Cauchy-Born rule , 2004 .

[10]  A. Neto,et al.  Making graphene visible , 2007, Applied Physics Letters.

[11]  Hugen Yan,et al.  Phonon softening and crystallographic orientation of strained graphene studied by Raman spectroscopy , 2009, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[12]  K. Hwang,et al.  Thickness of graphene and single-wall carbon nanotubes , 2006 .

[13]  G. Psarras,et al.  Determination of interface integrity in high volume fraction polymer composites at all strain levels , 2005 .

[14]  A. A. Griffith.  The Phenomena of Rupture and Flow in Solids , 1921 .

[15]  N. Marzari,et al.  Uniaxial Strain in Graphene by Raman Spectroscopy: G peak splitting, Gruneisen Parameters and Sample Orientation , 2008, 0812.1538.

[16]  Thomsen,et al.  Double resonant raman scattering in graphite , 2000, Physical review letters.

[17]  M I Katsnelson,et al.  Intrinsic ripples in graphene. , 2007, Nature materials.

[18]  W. R. Dean.  On the Theory of Elastic Stability , 1925 .

[19]  Kwang S. Kim,et al.  Large-scale pattern growth of graphene films for stretchable transparent electrodes , 2009, Nature.

[20]  Andre K. Geim,et al.  Electric Field Effect in Atomically Thin Carbon Films , 2004, Science.

[21]  C. Galiotis,et al.  Local strain re-distribution and stiffness degradation in cross-ply polymer composites under tension , 2005 .

[22]  Donald W. Brenner,et al.  A second-generation reactive empirical bond order (REBO) potential energy expression for hydrocarbons , 2002 .

[23]  M. Nardelli,et al.  Ultimate strength of carbon nanotubes: A theoretical study , 2002 .

[24]  Francesco Mauri,et al.  Kohn anomalies and electron-phonon interactions in graphite. , 2004, Physical review letters.

[25]  Ying Ying Wang,et al.  Uniaxial strain on graphene: Raman spectroscopy study and band-gap opening. , 2008, ACS nano.

[26]  J. Hartmann.  Polymers: Chemistry & physics of modern materials. Von J. M. G. COWIE. 2nd edition. ISBN 0-216-92980-6. Glasgow/London: Blakkie 1991. XI, 436s., soft cover, £ 19.95 , 1991 .

[27]  C. Galiotis,et al.  Interfacial micromechanics in model composites using laser Raman spectroscopy , 1993, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

[28]  R. Rosenfeld.  Nature , 2009, Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

[29]  F. Tuinstra,et al.  Raman Spectrum of Graphite , 1970 .

[30]  C. Galiotis,et al.  Compressional behaviour of carbon fibres , 1994, Journal of Materials Science.

[31]  L. Schadler,et al.  Fundamentals and applications of micro Raman spectroscopy to strain measurements in fibre reinforced composites , 1995 .

[32]  J. Kysar,et al.  Measurement of the Elastic Properties and Intrinsic Strength of Monolayer Graphene , 2008, Science.