• 文献标题:   Apparent Softening of Wet Graphene Membranes on a Microfluidic Platform
  • 文献类型:   Article
  • 作  者:   FERRARI GA, DE OLIVEIRA AB, SILVESTRE L, MATOS MJS, BATISTA RJC, FERNANDES TFD, MEIRELES LM, ELIEL GSN, CHACHAM H, NEVES BRA, LACERDA RG
  • 作者关键词:   graphene, membrane, microfluidic, mechanical propertie, liquid interface
  • 出版物名称:   ACS NANO
  • ISSN:   1936-0851 EI 1936-086X
  • 通讯作者地址:   Univ Fed Minas Gerais
  • 被引频次:   2
  • DOI:   10.1021/acsnano.7b08841
  • 出版年:   2018

▎ 摘  要

Graphene is regarded as the toughest two-dimensional material (highest in-plane elastic properties) and, as a consequence, it has been employed/proposed as an ultrathin membrane in a myriad of microfluidic devices. Yet, an experimental investigation of eventual variations on the apparent elastic properties of a suspended graphene membrane in contact with air or water is still missing. In this work, the mechanical response of suspended monolayer graphene membranes on a microfluidic platform is investigated via scanning probe microscopy experiments. A high elastic modulus is measured for the membrane when the platform is filled with air, as expected. However, a significant apparent softening of graphene is observed when water fills the microfluidic system. Through molecular dynamics simulations and a phenomenological model, we associate such softening to a water-induced uncrumpling process of the suspended graphene membrane. This result may bring substantial modifications on the design and operation of microfluidic devices which exploit pressure application on graphene membranes.