Ripples, strain, and misfit dislocations: structure of graphene-boron nitride superlattice interfaces.

Nandwana, Dinkar; Ertekin, Elif · Nano Lett · 2015

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

In recently synthesized two-dimensional superlattices of graphene and boron nitride, the atomic structure of the interface is complicated by a 2% lattice mismatch between the two materials. Using atomistic and continuum analysis, we show that the mismatch results in a competition between two strain-relieving mechanisms: misfit dislocations and rippling. For flat superlattices, beyond a critical pitch the interface is decorated by strain-relieving misfit dislocations. For superlattices that can deform out-of-plane, optimal ripple wavelengths emerge.