Xiaoding Wei

We measured the elastic properties and intrinsic breaking strength of free-standing monolayer graphene membranes by nanoindentation in an atomic force microscope. The force-displacement behavior is interpreted within a framework of nonlinear elastic stress-strain response, and yields second- and third-order elastic stiffnesses of 340 newtons per meter (N m(-1)) and -690 Nm(-1), respectively. The breaking strength is 42 N m(-1) and represents the intrinsic strength of a defect-free sheet. These quantities correspond to a Young's modulus of E = 1.0 terapascals, third-order elastic stiffness of D = -2.0 terapascals, and intrinsic strength of sigma(int) = 130 gigapascals for bulk graphite. These experiments establish graphene as the strongest material ever measured, and show that atomically perfect nanoscale materials can be mechanically tested to deformations well beyond the linear regime.

This research explores the nonlinear elastic properties of two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide. We derive a thermodynamically rigorous nonlinear elastic constitutive equation and then calculate the nonlinear elastic response of two-dimensional MoS${}_{2}$ with first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The nonlinear elastic properties are used to predict the behavior of suspended monolayer MoS${}_{2}$ subjected to a spherical indenter load at finite strains in a multiple-length-scale finite element analysis model. The model is validated experimentally by indenting suspended circular MoS${}_{2}$ membranes with an atomic force microscope. We find that the two-dimensional Young's modulus and intrinsic strength of monolayer MoS${}_{2}$ are 130 and 16.5 N/m, respectively. The results approach Griffith's predicted intrinsic strength limit of ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{int}}\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{E}{9}$, where $E$ is the Young's modulus. This study reveals the predictive power of first-principles density functional theory in the derivation of nonlinear elastic properties of two-dimensional MoS${}_{2}$. Furthermore, the study bridges three main gaps that hinder understanding of material properties: DFT to finite element analysis, experimental results to DFT, and the nanoscale to the microscale. In bridging these three gaps, the experimental results validate the DFT calculations and the multiscale constitutive model.

The nonlinear in-plane elastic properties of graphene are calculated using density-functional theory. A thermodynamically rigorous continuum description of the elastic response is formulated by expanding the elastic strain energy density in a Taylor series in strain truncated after the fifth-order term. Upon accounting for the symmetries of graphene, a total of fourteen nonzero independent elastic constants are determined by least-squares fit to the ab initio calculations. The nonlinear continuum description is valid for infinitesimal and finite strains under arbitrary in-plane tensile loading in circumstance for which the bending stiffness can be neglected. The continuum formulation is suitable for incorporation into the finite element method.

Abstract We describe studies of the elastic properties and frictional characteristics of graphene samples of varying thickness using an atomic force microscope. For tensile testing, graphene is suspended over micron‐sized circular holes and indented by atomic force microscope (AFM) tips. Fitting of the force‐displacement curves yields the prestress and elastic stiffness, while comparison of the breaking force to simulation gives the ultimate strength, which is the highest measured for any material. Experiments on samples with 1–3 atomic layers yield similar values for the intrinsic stiffness and strength of a single sheet, but also reveal differences in mechanical behavior with thickness. The frictional force between an AFM tip and graphene decreases with thickness for samples from 1 to 4 layers, and does not depend on the presence of a substrate. High‐resolution friction force imaging in stick‐slip mode shows the same trend, and allows direct imaging of the crystal lattice.

Abstract Advanced ceramic sponge materials with temperature-invariant high compressibility are urgently needed as thermal insulators, energy absorbers, catalyst carriers, and high temperature air filters. However, the application of ceramic sponge materials is severely limited due to their complex preparation process. Here, we present a facile method for large-scale fabrication of highly compressible, temperature resistant SiO 2 -Al 2 O 3 composite ceramic sponges by blow spinning and subsequent calcination. We successfully produce anisotropic lamellar ceramic sponges with numerous stacked microfiber layers and density as low as 10 mg cm −3 . The anisotropic lamellar ceramic sponges exhibit high compression fatigue resistance, strain-independent zero Poisson’s ratio, robust fire resistance, temperature-invariant compression resilience from −196 to 1000 °C, and excellent thermal insulation with a thermal conductivity as low as 0.034 W m −1 K −1 . In addition, the lamellar structure also endows the ceramic sponges with excellent sound absorption properties, representing a promising alternative to existing thermal insulation and acoustic absorption materials.