Nanomechanical properties of few-layer graphene membranes

We have measured the mechanical properties of few-layer graphene and graphite flakes that are suspended over circular holes. The spatial profile of the flake's spring constant is measured with an atomic force microscope. The bending rigidity of and the tension in the membranes are extracted by fitting a continuum model to the data. For flakes down to eight graphene layers, both parameters show a strong thickness dependence. We predict fundamental resonance frequencies of these nanodrums in the gigahertz range based on the measured bending rigidity and tension. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.