Mechanical and Civil Engineering Seminar

The synthesis of precisely engineered nanostructures will enable the discovery of new classes of multi-functional materials and change the way structures are designed. Graphene is a 2D material known for its extremely high strength. Its integration into composites requires clear understanding of its structural and interfacial characteristic at multiple length scales. I will present the route towards graphene-crystalline materials composites, bridging physics to manufacturing. I will introduce a model material, namely graphene-Pd heterostructure, to study graphene-metal composites. Mathematical models guide our understanding of the kinetics of graphene synthesis and its atomic registration on ultrathin catalyst towards the precise control of its structure. The mechanics and physics of graphene-Pd heterostructures are characterized at multiple length scales by combining atomic imaging, spectroscopy and mechanical testing. A machine learning approach is proposed to scale up the manufacturing of these new materials for applications ranging from gilding-based coatings to flexible electronics.