Dissipation from Interlayer Friction in Graphene Nanoelectromechanical Resonators

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Physics

Background:

• Two-dimensional (2D) materials exhibit ultralow friction at their van der Waals interfaces.
• The impact of these low-friction interfaces on the dynamic performance of 2D heterostructure-based nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) is a critical research question.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how different graphene stacking configurations (monolayer, Bernal-stacked bilayer, twisted bilayer) affect energy dissipation in NEMS resonators.
• To quantify the influence of interlayer friction on the dynamic performance of 2D NEMS.

Main Methods:

• Utilized graphene nanoelectromechanical drumhead resonators for sensitive measurements.
• Compared quality factors of resonators made from monolayer, Bernal-stacked bilayer, and twisted bilayer graphene.
• Developed a model to account for stiffness changes and interlayer friction-induced dissipation.

Main Results:

• Observed significant differences in average quality factors: 53 for monolayer, 40 for twisted bilayer, and 31 for Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene.
• Demonstrated that even minimal friction at 2D sliding interfaces can alter dissipation in 2D NEMS.
• Quantified the contribution of interlayer friction to energy loss.

Conclusions:

• Interlayer friction in 2D heterostructures is a crucial factor influencing dissipation in NEMS.
• The developed model offers a generalized method for quantifying dissipation in NEMS incorporating interlayer slip and friction.
• Understanding and controlling interlayer friction is essential for optimizing the dynamic performance of future 2D NEMS devices.