Straining free-standing graphene

Abstract

2D Materials Graphene is known, at least theoretically, to have a very high stiffness, which has been difficult to measure experimentally. Part of the challenge is being able to stretch and monitor a free-standing single-crystal monolayer of graphene instead of one that is supported. Cao et al. developed a new protocol for transferring, shaping, and straining graphene inside the scanning electron microscope. The authors found that free-standing graphene, even with edge defects, has mechanical properties close to the theoretical estimates and mechanical robustness attractive for many applications. Nat. Commun. 11 , 284 (2020).