BSTRACTMicro-pillars with diameters varying from 0.5 to 3.5 µm were fabricated from bulk nanolaminated graphene (in the form of reduced grapheme oxide

RGO)–Al composite. Upon uniaxial compression

the pillar strengths exhibited no obvious size effect

and the pillars of larger diameters possessed smoother stress–strain response

as opposed to the jerky deformation of their smaller counterparts. A corresponding transition in the deformation mode from Al layer extrusion to shear fracture over decreasing pillar diameter was observed. These observations were explained by the competing effect of dislocation accumulation and annihilation

and a grain boundary-assisted deformation mechanism.