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arXiv · 1702.08753

Elastic properties and mechanical tension of graphene

R. Ramirez·C. P. Herrero
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Abstract

Room temperature simulations of graphene have been performed as a function of the mechanical tension of the layer. Finite-size effects are accurately reproduced by an acoustic dispersion law for the out-of-plane vibrations that, in the long-wave limit, behaves as $\rho\omega^2=\sigma k^2+\kappa k^4$. The fluctuation tension $\sigma$ is finite ($\sim 0.1$ N/m) even when the external mechanical tension vanishes. Transverse vibrations imply a duplicity in the definition of the elastic constants of the layer, as observables related to the real area of the surface may differ from those related to the in-plane projected area. This duplicity explains the variability of experimental data on the Young modulus of graphene based on electron spectroscopy, interferometric profilometery, and indentation experiments.

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R. Ramirez, C. P. Herrero. 2017-02-28. Elastic properties and mechanical tension of graphene. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.95.045423

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