Abstract

Modeling of wrinkles and folds formation in single and multilayer graphene sheets lying on flat deformable (polymer) substrates has been carried out. It is shown that the deformability of the substrate leads to significant features: soft polymer substrates can penetrate into wrinkles and folds of the graphene sheet, completely filling the voids beneath the sheet, and vertical folds can be directed upward or downward into the substrate. By modeling uniaxial compression of the graphene/polymer system, the effects of external pressure and thermal vibrations are analyzed. High pressure stabilizes the initial ground state; above a critical compression, localized wrinkles form and their interiors fill with substrate molecules. Increasing temperature enlarges wrinkles and reduces their number, while substrate melting eliminates all wrinkles and small folds. Upon cooling, the wrinkle system is not restored, suggesting a route to remove localized wrinkles and folds.

Abstract

Modeling of wrinkles and folds formation in single and multilayer graphene sheets lying on flat deformable (polymer) substrates has been carried out. It is shown that the deformability of the substrate leads to significant features: soft polymer substrates can penetrate into wrinkles and folds of the graphene sheet, completely filling the voids beneath the sheet, and vertical folds can be directed upward or downward into the substrate. By modeling uniaxial compression of the graphene/polymer system, the effects of external pressure and thermal vibrations are analyzed. High pressure stabilizes the initial ground state; above a critical compression, localized wrinkles form and their interiors fill with substrate molecules. Increasing temperature enlarges wrinkles and reduces their number, while substrate melting eliminates all wrinkles and small folds. Upon cooling, the wrinkle system is not restored, suggesting a route to remove localized wrinkles and folds.

Abstract

Modeling of wrinkles and folds formation in single and multilayer graphene sheets lying on flat deformable (polymer) substrates has been carried out. It is shown that the deformability of the substrate leads to significant features: soft polymer substrates can penetrate into wrinkles and folds of the graphene sheet, completely filling the voids beneath the sheet, and vertical folds can be directed upward or downward into the substrate. By modeling uniaxial compression of the graphene/polymer system, the effects of external pressure and thermal vibrations are analyzed. High pressure stabilizes the initial ground state; above a critical compression, localized wrinkles form and their interiors fill with substrate molecules. Increasing temperature enlarges wrinkles and reduces their number, while substrate melting eliminates all wrinkles and small folds. Upon cooling, the wrinkle system is not restored, suggesting a route to remove localized wrinkles and folds.

Abstract

Modeling of wrinkles and folds formation in single and multilayer graphene sheets lying on flat deformable (polymer) substrates has been carried out. It is shown that the deformability of the substrate leads to significant features: soft polymer substrates can penetrate into wrinkles and folds of the graphene sheet, completely filling the voids beneath the sheet, and vertical folds can be directed upward or downward into the substrate. By modeling uniaxial compression of the graphene/polymer system, the effects of external pressure and thermal vibrations are analyzed. High pressure stabilizes the initial ground state; above a critical compression, localized wrinkles form and their interiors fill with substrate molecules. Increasing temperature enlarges wrinkles and reduces their number, while substrate melting eliminates all wrinkles and small folds. Upon cooling, the wrinkle system is not restored, suggesting a route to remove localized wrinkles and folds.