Two-dimensional membranes in motion

This thesis revolves around nanomechanical membranes made of suspended two - dimensional materials. Chapters 1-3 give an introduction to the field of 2D-based nanomechanical devices together with an overview of the underlying physics and the measurementtools used in subsequent chapters. The research topics that are discussed can bedivided into...

Graphene gas pumps

We report on the development of a pneumatically coupled graphene membrane system, comprising of two circular cavities connected by a narrow trench. Both cavities and the trench are covered by a thin few-layer graphene membrane to form a sealed dumbbell-shaped chamber. Local electrodes at the bottom of each cavity allow for actuation of each...

Static capacitive pressure sensing using a single graphene drumg

To realize nanomechanical graphene-based pressure sensors, it is beneficial to have a method to electrically readout the static displacement of a suspended graphene membrane. Capacitive readout, typical in micro-electromechanical systems, gets increasingly challenging as one starts shrinking the dimensions of these devices because the expected...