Ultrathin Mica and Graphite Cantilevers Enhanced Photoacoustic Spectroscopy – towards Modelling of Acousto-mechanical Properties

Abstract

Abstract In this article, we present the concept of probing of the acousto-mechanical properties (e.g. spring constant, resonator quality factor) of thin 2D or 2D like samples (i.e., samples with one dimension at least 2 orders of magnitude smaller than the others). Samples prepared from highly ordered pyrolytic graphite and muscovite with thickness under 1 μm and other dimensions in the mm range are used for this purpose. These samples are employed in photoacoustic spectroscopy as the pressure sensitive elements and its movement is monitored by a He-Ne laser beam reflected from the surface of these samples onto a position sensitive detector. The concept includes the following steps: 1) development of the method of preparation of thin samples from layered materials 2) development of the experimental approach for data collection 3) derivation of theoretical behavior of photoacoustic response of the samples and 4) development and application of a model on experimentally acquired data.