We report on the mechanical properties of few-layer black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets, in high vacuum and as a function of time of exposure to atmospheric conditions [1]. BP flakes with thicknesses ranging from 4 to 30 nm suspended over circular holes are characterized by nanoindentations using an atomic force microscope tip. From measurements in high vacuum an elastic modulus of 46+/-10 GPa and breaking strength of 2.4+/-1 GPa are estimated. Both magnitudes are independent of the thickness of the flakes. Our results show that the exposure to air has substantial influence in the mechanical response of flakes thinner than 6 nm but small effects on thicker flakes.
@article{arxiv.1608.06855,
title = {Environmental Effects in Mechanical Properties of Few-layer Black Phosphorus},
author = {Miriam Moreno-Moreno and Guillermo Lopez-Polin and Andres Castellanos-Gomez and Cristina Gomez-Navarro and Julio Gomez-Herrero},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1608.06855},
year = {2016}
}
Comments
Main article: number of pages 10, number of figures 4 Supplementary information: number of pages 9, number of figures 8, 2D Materials 2016