Mechanochemistry is the study of chemical reactions driven by the introduction of mechanical energy, as compared to more traditional methods of inducing a reaction such as through the application of light, heat, or electricity. This area has little in-depth research on a molecular level and expanding our fundamental understanding of mechanochemistry would ideally allow for more efficient and greener syntheses of process chemicals and inorganic nanomaterials. The current research on driving chemical reactivity as a response to applied force is a focus of the Center for Mechanical Control of Chemistry. One platform for studying the influence of mechanical force on chemical reactivity is monolayer graphene. This is an ideal system, as graphene is a well characterized material consisting of only in-plane C-C bonds. As a model reaction, the susceptibility of graphene to oxidation will be studied using Raman spectroscopy. The extent of oxidation as a result of exposure to aqueous solutions of varying pH will be studied at ambient pressure, and with varying levels of backing pressure. Ideally, results will show that as the backing pressure increase, the out-of-plane distortion of the graphene membrane will increase, electron delocalization will become inhibited, ultimately leading to an increase in reactivity. Understanding how reactivity can be controlled on a microscopic level would allow for in-depth analysis of reaction conditions influenced by directionality as a result of applied force.

Force induced reactivity of 2D membranes

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