Figure 5: MD simulations for single dislocation dynamics.

(a) A schematic view of the dislocation slip and model pillar system used in our simulations. (b) Top view of a Ni–graphene nanopillar as a function of compression, where the two Shockley partials are travelling within the slip plane. (c) Side views before the dislocation core arrives (left panel), right after the dislocation core arrives (middle panel), and after the dislocation is pinned and further propagation is blocked at the Ni–graphene interface (right panel). The surface step is not created. Blue-coloured atoms are Ni, and green-coloured atoms are graphene. Blue dotted lines are to guide the reader’s eyes. (d) Schematic figure illustrating the blocking of dislocation propagation at the Ni–graphene interface. Formation of a surface edge structure at the bottom of the upper Ni nanopillar is not favoured due to the high bending stiffness of the graphene.