High strength and plasticity in disordered multilayer graphene reinforced copper composites

Yongfeng Geng, Xiaohui Zhang, Yufan Zheng, Lei Zhao, Zan Li, Xu Li, Ruijuan Qi, Zhiping Wang, Gang Sha, Di Zhang and Ding-Bang Xiong ()
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Yongfeng Geng: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Xiaohui Zhang: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Yufan Zheng: East China Normal University
Lei Zhao: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Zan Li: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Xu Li: National Institute of Metrology
Ruijuan Qi: East China Normal University
Zhiping Wang: Nanjing University of Science and Technology
Gang Sha: Nanjing University of Science and Technology
Di Zhang: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Ding-Bang Xiong: Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Nanocrystalline (nc) metals typically possess high strength but low ductility. Here, we report an interface nanostructuring design via plasma assisted ball milling (PABM) to fabricate disordered multilayer graphene (DMGr)/Cu composites that are ultra-strong yet plastic, achieving a compressive strength of 1.56 GPa and plastic strain of exceeding 0.6. Our strategy relies on the uniformly and densely dispersed DMGr with sp2-sp3 hybridization. Interlayer sliding of DMGr but much stronger than van der Waals forces which can be anticipated to mediate plastic deformation and improve the plasticity. The high intrinsic strength of DMGr and associated Cu lattice strain near the interface due to strong interactions between DMGr and matrix can significantly impede dislocation motion and promote dislocation accumulation within nanograin interior. Ex-situ and in-situ TEM characterizations revealed that substantial dislocation interactions and accumulations induced by DMGr and the associated lattice strain along with interlayer sliding of DMGr, led to high strength, enhanced strain hardening capacity and superior plasticity. Such a design strategy provides a pathway for mitigating the trade-off between strength and plasticity in nanograined metals.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62184-0

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