Finite temperature lattice properties of graphene beyond the quasiharmonic approximation

Abstract

The thermal and mechanical stability of graphene is important for many potential applications in nanotechnology. We calculate the temperature dependence of lattice parameter, elastic properties and heat capacity by means of atomistic Monte Carlo simulations that allow to go beyond the quasiharmonic approximation. We predict an unusual, non-monotonic, behavior of the lattice parameter with minimum at temperature about 900 K and of the shear modulus with maximum at the same temperature. The Poisson ratio in graphene is found to be small ~0.1 in a broad temperature interval.