Attraction between topological defects in graphene

The interaction of Stone–Wales topological defects in graphene has been studied through computer simulation. This simulation has revealed configurations of two defects with energies below the energy of a monolayer with two spaced defects. This indicates the attraction between defects and the possibility of the formation of their clusters. The attraction is due to the interference between defect-induced wavy distortions of the structure of the monolayer. In this case, the amplitude of transverse displacement of atoms near a pair of defects reaches $2$–$3$ Å. Such a strong deformation of graphene by Stone–Wales defects can be one of the reasons for its experimentally observed “crumpled” texture.