Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-gtxcr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T04:31:58.483Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Computational Nanomechanics of Graphene Membranes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Romain Perriot
Affiliation:
rperriot@shell.cas.usf.edu, University of South Florida, Physics, Tampa, Florida, United States
Xiang Gu
Affiliation:
xgu@shell.cas.usf.edu, University of South Florida, Physics, Tampa, Florida, United States
Ivan I. Oleynik
Affiliation:
oleynik@shell.cas.usf.edu, University of South Florida, Physics, Tampa, Florida, United States
Get access

Abstract

Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations of nanoindentation on graphene membranes were performed. The 2-d Young's modulus of the graphene monolayer was determined as 243 ± 18 N/m and the breaking strength as 41 ± 3 N/m. These values agree reasonably well with recent experimental results [1]. In addition, the simulations allowed us to examine the atomic-scale dynamics of membrane breaking during the nanoindentation, involving formation of an increasing number of lattice defects until membrane is completely broken. The onset of defect appearance allowed us to determine the true elastic limit of graphene and the corresponding yield strength 29 ± 1 N/m which was not accessible experimentally. The defects consist of vacancies and Stone-Wales type defects. Long stable linear chains of sp bonded carbon atoms (carbynes) were observed under the indenter at the advanced stages of indentation. The dynamics of fracture propagation is governed by the shear stresses developed in the sample.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[1] Lee, et al., Science 321, 385 (2008)10.1126/science.1157996Google Scholar
[2] Geim, A.K., Novoselov, K.S., Nature Materials 6, 183191 (2007)10.1038/nmat1849Google Scholar
[3] Plimpton, S. J., J Comp Phys, 117, 119 (1995), http://lammps.sandia.govGoogle Scholar
[4] Brenner, D. W., Phys. Rev. B 42, 9458 (1990), J. Phys.: Condens. Matter. 14, 783 (2002)10.1103/PhysRevB.42.9458Google Scholar
[5] Timoshenko, S., Theory of Plates and Shells, 2nd edition, Mc Graw-Hill (1959)Google Scholar
[6] Komaragiri, U., Begley, M. R., J. Appl. Mech. 72, 203 (2005)10.1115/1.1827246Google Scholar
[7] Huang, et al., PRB 74, 245413 (2006)10.1103/PhysRevB.74.245413Google Scholar
[8] Bhatia, N. M., Nachbar, W., Int. J. Non-Linear Mech 3, 307 (1968)10.1016/0020-7462(68)90004-8Google Scholar
[9] Heimann, R. B. et al., Nature 306, 164 (1983)10.1038/306164a0Google Scholar
[10] Ravagnan, L. et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 285506 (2002)10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.285506Google Scholar