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Fracture toughness of graphene

Author

Listed:
  • Peng Zhang

    (Rice University)

  • Lulu Ma

    (Rice University)

  • Feifei Fan

    (Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Zhi Zeng

    (Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Cheng Peng

    (Rice University)

  • Phillip E. Loya

    (Rice University)

  • Zheng Liu

    (Rice University
    School of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University)

  • Yongji Gong

    (Rice University)

  • Jiangnan Zhang

    (Rice University)

  • Xingxiang Zhang

    (Institute of Functional Fibers, Tianjin Polytechnic University)

  • Pulickel M. Ajayan

    (Rice University)

  • Ting Zhu

    (Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Jun Lou

    (Rice University)

Abstract

Perfect graphene is believed to be the strongest material. However, the useful strength of large-area graphene with engineering relevance is usually determined by its fracture toughness, rather than the intrinsic strength that governs a uniform breaking of atomic bonds in perfect graphene. To date, the fracture toughness of graphene has not been measured. Here we report an in situ tensile testing of suspended graphene using a nanomechanical device in a scanning electron microscope. During tensile loading, the pre-cracked graphene sample fractures in a brittle manner with sharp edges, at a breaking stress substantially lower than the intrinsic strength of graphene. Our combined experiment and modelling verify the applicability of the classic Griffith theory of brittle fracture to graphene. The fracture toughness of graphene is measured as the critical stress intensity factor of and the equivalent critical strain energy release rate of 15.9 J m−2. Our work quantifies the essential fracture properties of graphene and provides mechanistic insights into the mechanical failure of graphene.

Suggested Citation

  • Peng Zhang & Lulu Ma & Feifei Fan & Zhi Zeng & Cheng Peng & Phillip E. Loya & Zheng Liu & Yongji Gong & Jiangnan Zhang & Xingxiang Zhang & Pulickel M. Ajayan & Ting Zhu & Jun Lou, 2014. "Fracture toughness of graphene," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-7, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4782
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4782
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    Cited by:

    1. Chao Rong & Ting Su & Zhenkai Li & Tianshu Chu & Mingliang Zhu & Yabin Yan & Bowei Zhang & Fu-Zhen Xuan, 2024. "Elastic properties and tensile strength of 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene monolayers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Nauman Javed, Rana Muhammad & Al-Othman, Amani & Tawalbeh, Muhammad & Olabi, Abdul Ghani, 2022. "Recent developments in graphene and graphene oxide materials for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).

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