Effective Elastic Properties of Multilayer Graphene

Abstract: We present experimental measurements on Young's modulus and Gr\"{u}neisen parameter of multilayer graphene with varying number of layers using in situ bulge tests corroborated by atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Due to the experimental challenges posed by the significant disparity between intra and interlayer mechanical strengths, measuring conclusive elastic parameters are proven difficult. We analyze the results based on a new theoretical model together with first-principles calculations to elucidate the mechanism of thickness dependent incomplete strain transfer across the layers. Our findings indicate that the experimental elastic constants, which differ from intrinsic computed ones, have unavoidable limitations in reflecting ideal mechanical couplings between layers. Consequently, we propose a new mechanical modulus, free from effects of uncontrollable delamination of layers, derived by combining Gr\"{u}neisen parameter with Young's modulus.