Adhesion mechanics of graphene membranes

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent experimental and theoretical advances in understanding the adhesion mechanics of graphene membranes, focusing on conformation, adhesion energy, and technological applications.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on graphene adhesion, highlighting experimental and theoretical progress and outlining open research issues.

Findings

Advances in measuring graphene adhesion energy

Insights into graphene conformation on substrates

Identification of open challenges in adhesion research

Abstract

The interaction of graphene with neighboring materials and structures plays an important role in its behavior, both scientifically and technologically. The interactions are complicated due to the interplay between surface forces and possibly nonlinear elastic behavior. Here we review recent experimental and theoretical advances in the understanding of graphene adhesion. We organize our discussion into experimental and theoretical efforts directed toward: graphene conformation to a substrate, determination of adhesion energy, and applications where graphene adhesion plays an important role. We conclude with a brief prospectus outlining open issues.