Mechanical Characterization of Atomically Thin Membranes

鲁夫团队将对原子薄膜的机械性能进行研究。将使用两种工具来进行这些测量：原子力显微镜将直接对膜施加应力。光学轮廓仪将单独用于测量作为施加压力的函数的膜的偏转。将测量几种不同的材料：原子厚度的石墨烯、氧化的石墨烯、单层粘土和非常薄的非晶态碳膜。为了更好地理解这些非常薄的薄膜的机械行为，并从实验数据中提取基本的机械性能，将开发出模型。这种原子薄膜将在许多重要的应用中得到应用，例如用于压力传感，以及作为机电和化学传感元件。为个别层和几层堆叠的机械响应建立的数据库将与理解这种薄血小板在复合材料中以及在纳米电子和传感器等各种应用中所起的作用有关。该项目包括对研究生和博士后研究员的研究培训，为高中生和本科生以及高中教师提供的暑期研究经验，对德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校使用的课程材料的补充，以及为7-12年级开发课程。研究成果将在高质量的期刊上发表，并在大学、国家实验室、研究所和其他公共论坛、国际会议和高知名度的网站上进行应邀演讲。

The Ruoff group will undertake studies of the mechanical properties of atomically thin membranes. Two tools will be used to make these measurements: An atomic force microscope will directly stress the membranes. An optical profilometer will separately be used to measure the deflection of the membranes as a function of applied pressure. Several different materials will be measured: atom-thick graphene, oxidized graphene, single layer clays, and very thin amorphous carbon films. Models will be developed to better understand the mechanical behavior of these very thin films and to extract the basic mechanical properties from the experimental data.Such atomically thin membranes will find use in a host of important applications, such as for pressure sensing, and as electromechanical and chemical sensing elements. The database established for the mechanical response of individual layers and few-layer stacks will be relevant to understanding the role such thin platelets play in composite materials, and in a variety of applications such as nanoelectronics and senors. The project includes significant outreach such as research training for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, summer research experiences for high school and undergraduate students and high school teachers, additions to course materials used at UT Austin, and curriculum development for grades 7-12. Research results will be disseminated by publication in quality journals, and invited talks at universities, national laboratories, institutes, and other public forums, at international conferences, and on a highly visible web site.