Mechanical properties and fracture patterns of graphene (graphitic) nanowiggles

CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPGraphene nanowiggles (GNW) are graphene-based nanostructures obtained by making alternated regular cuts in pristine graphene nanoribbons. GNW were recently synthesized and it was demonstrated that they exhibit tunable electronic and magnetic properties by just varying their shape. Here, we have investigated the mechanical properties and fracture patterns of a large number of GNW of different shapes and sizes using fully atomistic reactive molecular dynamics simulations. Our results show that the GNW mechanical properties are strongly dependent on its shape and size and, as a general trend narrow sheets have larger ultimate strength and Young's modulus than wide ones. The estimated Young's modulus values were found to be in a range of approximate to 100 - 1000 GPa and the ultimate strength in a range of approximate to 20 - 110 GPa, depending on GNW shape. Also, super-ductile behavior under strain was observed for some structures.119431437CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPCONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPSem informaçãoSem informação2013/08293-7This work was supported in part by the Brazilian Agencies CNPq, CAPES and FAPESP. The authors would like to thank the Center for Computational Engineering and Sciences at Unicamp for financial support through the FAPESP/CEPID Grant 2013/08293-7. N.M.P. is supported by the European Research Council PoC 2015 “Silkene” No. 693670, by the European Commission H2020 under the Graphene Flagship Core 1 No. 696656 (WP14 “Polymer Nanocomposites”) and under the Fet Proactive “Neurofibres” No. 732344