Effect of defects on mechanical properties of novel hybrid graphene-h-BN/copper layered nanostructures

The geometric imperfections (circular and square nanohole) were created in different regions of graphene/h-BN heterostructure. Defective heterostructures were used as a reinforcing material for copper (defective G/h-BN@Cu). The mechanical properties of defective G/h-BN@Cu were studied, and the effects of defect size and position on mechanical properties were studied by molecular dynamics. The results showed that mechanical properties of the defective G/h-BN@Cu nanostructure decrease with the increase of the diameter of the nanohole. The effects of nanohole on the stress and strain of the G/h-BN@Cu nanostructures are much higher than Young's modulus. The three mechanical values of G/h-BN@Cu nanostructures in the presence of nanoholes change considerably and do not follow the general trends. When the nanohole is created at h-BN region, a greater reduction of mechanical properties is at this location, relative to other positions. The adverse effect of circular defects on mechanical properties of G/h-BN@Cu nanostructures is lower than that of square defects.