Interface Adhesion Properties of Graphene Membranes: Thickness and Temperature Effect

Abstract

The interface adhesion plays a crucial role in many applications of graphene, and is critical to graphene-based nanoelectronic and nanomechanical devices. However, in contrast to that of graphene membrane at ambient temperature, the question as to whether we could address the interface adhesion energy and local separation between membrane and underlying substrate under high temperature still remains unresolved. Herein, we develop a theoretical approach to deal with the temperature and thickness dependence of interface adhesion properties of graphene membranes based on the atomic-bond-relaxation consideration. Theoretical analyses indicate that the adhesion energy and interface separation can be modulated by the membrane thickness and external temperature. The unique adhesion properties can be ascribed to the size- and temperature-dependent Young’s modulus of graphene and lattice strain caused by the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch. Our theoretical predictions are in agreement with the experimental measurements and simulations, which provide the possible method on tunable adhesion properties of graphene for possible applications.