Subjecting a graphene monolayer to tension and compression

Abstract

An experimental set‐up for loading graphene flakes in both tension and compression is shown in the image. This technique allows investigation not only of bare flakes (just laid out on the plastic substrate) but also of flakes embedded within the beam. The embedded graphene flakes can sustain tensile strains of over 1.3%, whereas in compression no further loading is possible up to 0.7%.