Abstract by Kyle Larsen
Physics and Astronomy
Strength and modulus of free-standing many-layer graphene films
Graphene is a material consisting of a single atomic layer of carbon atoms. It has a reported tensile strength of 130 GPa and a Young's modulus of 1000 GPa, making it 250 times stronger and 5 times more stiff than steel. In order to take advantage of graphene's mechanical properties for larger scale applications, it is necessary to fabricate graphene films that are multiple layers thick. By using this many-layer graphene as a building block material, it may be possible to fabricate more robust devices ranging in size from one micron to one centimeter, such as accelerometers, pressure sensors, and acoustic transducers to membranes and filters. This research focuses on understanding how the strength and stiffness of graphene scales with dozens or hundreds of layers. This information is vital for understanding how to model many-layer graphene structures and for the adoption of graphene as a mechanical material, which may lead to stronger and longer lasting devices.