Mosaic pattern formation in exfoliated graphene by mechanical deformation

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the creation of mosaic patterns in exfoliated graphene through mechanical deformation, enabling new applications in nano-fluidics, photo-electronics, and sensors.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to induce mosaic patterns in exfoliated graphene at room temperature using mechanical loading techniques.

Findings

Mosaic patterns can be formed in exfoliated graphene via mechanical deformation.

Patterned graphene can trap or manipulate fluids in nano-fluidic applications.

The method opens new avenues for graphene-based sensors and electronic devices.

Abstract

Graphene is susceptible to morphological instabilities such as wrinkles and folds, which result from the imposition of thermo-mechanical stresses upon cooling from high temperatures and/ or under biaxial loading. A particular pattern encountered in CVD graphene is that of mosaic formation. Although it is understood that this pattern results from the severe biaxial compression upon cooling from high temperatures, it has not been possible to create such a complex pattern at room temperature by mechanical loading. Herein, we have managed by means of lateral wrinkling induced by tension and Euler buckling resulting from uniaxial compression upon unloading, to create such patterns in exfoliated graphene. We also show that these patterns can be used as channels for trapping or administering fluids at interstitial space between graphene and its support. This opens a whole dearth of new applications in the area of nano-fluidics but also in photo-electronics and sensor technologies.