Atomic intercalation to measure adhesion of graphene on graphite
Citations Over TimeTop 12% of 2016 papers
Abstract
The interest in mechanical properties of two-dimensional materials has emerged in light of new device concepts taking advantage of flexing, adhesion and friction. Here we demonstrate an effective method to measure adhesion of graphene atop highly ordered pyrolytic graphite, utilizing atomic-scale 'blisters' created in the top layer by neon atom intercalates. Detailed analysis of scanning tunnelling microscopy images is used to reconstruct atomic positions and the strain map within the deformed graphene layer, and demonstrate the tip-induced subsurface translation of neon atoms. We invoke an analytical model, originally devised for graphene macroscopic deformations, to determine the graphite adhesion energy of 0.221±0.011 J m-2. This value is in excellent agreement with reported macroscopic values and our atomistic simulations. This implies mechanical properties of graphene scale down to a few-nanometre length. The simplicity of our method provides a unique opportunity to investigate the local variability of nanomechanical properties in layered materials.
Related Papers
- → In situ atomic force microscopy study of dimensional changes during Li+ ion intercalation/de-intercalation in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite(2004)72 cited
- → Optical Characterization of Graphene and Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite(2009)38 cited
- → Secondary Electron Emission of Pyrolytic Graphite Cleaved in a High Vacuum(1963)9 cited
- → Temperature Dependences of Resistivity of CuCl2, FeCl3 Intercalation Compounds of Graphite Carbon Fiber(2005)1 cited
- Intercalation of ClO_4~- into HOPG Investigated by EC-STM(2015)