Welding few-layered graphene ribbon via penetration of high-speed fullerenes

Abstract

Two-dimensional materials are popular in design of nanodevices. To improve bending stiffness of few-layered graphene ribbon, the relative sliding between neighboring layers should be avoided by method such as bonding them together. In this study, the new bonds between the graphene layers in ribbon are formed by ballistic C60 fullerenes from both surfaces of the ribbon. Collision effects are evaluated through molecular dynamics simulations. The formation of the new two dimensional carbon material is demonstrated by breakage and generation of bonds between atoms from graphene and/or fullerenes. Note that the incident velocity of the fullerenes had an interval, in which both graphene and fullerenes will break and further be connected by new covalent bonds at the impact area.