Two-dimensional (2D) materials have dominated nanoscience for the last two decades. Among all 2D materials, graphene, MoS 2 , and h-BN are extremely popular and have been tentatively scaled up to fabricate nanocomposites, energy storage devices, flexible electronics, etc., ex situ and in situ mechanical characterization of 2D crystals can help us understand their mechanical behavior and measure their mechanical properties, which are of great significance in both fundamental science and practical engineering. To date, a great effort has been devoted to both theoretical and experimental mechanics with a focus on unveiling mechanical behaviors and quantifying mechanical properties. Beyond original research, several insightful review works have been published with a specific focus on the mechanics of 2D materials. To have a complementary contribution to the overview of the mechanics of 2D materials, we would like to review the developed experimental techniques being used to mechanically characterize 2D materials. The working mechanism and associated advantages and disadvantages of the techniques will be briefly discussed. Based on the existence of arguments in mechanical properties and behaviors of 2D crystals, and immature mechanical characterization of 2D materials, more intensive and comprehensive studies are expected toward a full understanding of these novel and promising materials.

For most electrodes fabricated with carbon, transition metal compounds, or conductive polymers, the capacitance may deteriorate with cyclic charging and discharging. Thus, an electrochemically stable supercapacitor has long been pursued by researchers. In this work, the hierarchical structure of balsa wood is preserved in the converted carbon which is used as a supporting framework to fabricate electrodes for supercapacitors. Well‐grown carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on interior and exterior surfaces of balsa carbon channels provide two advantages including 1) offering more specific surface area to boost capacitance via electric double layer capacitance and 2) offering more active Fe and Ni sites to participate in the redox reaction to enhance capacitance of the balsa carbon/CNTs electrode. The balsa carbon/CNTs demonstrate an excellent area capacitance of 1940 mF cm−2. As active sites on Ni and Fe catalysts and inner walls of CNTs are gradually released, the capacitance increases 66% after 4000 charge–discharge cycles. This work brings forward a strategy for the rational design of high‐performance biomass carbon coupled with advanced nanostructures for energy storage.

Hydrogen bonding and van der Waals (vdW) forces have been precisely measured and distinguished by an in-house nanomechanical testing system.

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