Sensitive electromechanical sensors using viscoelastic graphene-polymer nanocomposites

Conor S Boland; Umar Khan; Gavin Ryan; Sebastian Barwich; Romina Charifou; Andrew Harvey; Claudia Backes; Zheling Li; Mauro S Ferreira; Matthias E Möbius; Robert J Young; Jonathan N Coleman

doi:10.1126/science.aag2879

Sensitive electromechanical sensors using viscoelastic graphene-polymer nanocomposites

Conor S Boland, Umar Khan, Gavin Ryan, Sebastian Barwich, Romina Charifou, Andrew Harvey, Claudia Backes, Zheling Li, Mauro S Ferreira, Matthias E Möbius, Robert J Young, Jonathan N Coleman

University of Dublin Trinity College

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Abstract

Despite its widespread use in nanocomposites, the effect of embedding graphene in highly viscoelastic polymer matrices is not well understood. We added graphene to a lightly cross-linked polysilicone, often encountered as Silly Putty, changing its electromechanical properties substantially. The resulting nanocomposites display unusual electromechanical behavior, such as postdeformation temporal relaxation of electrical resistance and nonmonotonic changes in resistivity with strain. These phenomena are associated with the mobility of the nanosheets in the low-viscosity polymer matrix. By considering both the connectivity and mobility of the nanosheets, we developed a quantitative model that completely describes the electromechanical properties. These nanocomposites are sensitive electromechanical sensors with gauge factors >500 that can measure pulse, blood pressure, and even the impact associated with the footsteps of a small spider.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1257-1260
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	354
Issue number	6317
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aag2879
Publication status	Published - 9 Dec 2016

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title = "Sensitive electromechanical sensors using viscoelastic graphene-polymer nanocomposites",

abstract = "Despite its widespread use in nanocomposites, the effect of embedding graphene in highly viscoelastic polymer matrices is not well understood. We added graphene to a lightly cross-linked polysilicone, often encountered as Silly Putty, changing its electromechanical properties substantially. The resulting nanocomposites display unusual electromechanical behavior, such as postdeformation temporal relaxation of electrical resistance and nonmonotonic changes in resistivity with strain. These phenomena are associated with the mobility of the nanosheets in the low-viscosity polymer matrix. By considering both the connectivity and mobility of the nanosheets, we developed a quantitative model that completely describes the electromechanical properties. These nanocomposites are sensitive electromechanical sensors with gauge factors >500 that can measure pulse, blood pressure, and even the impact associated with the footsteps of a small spider.",

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AU - Boland, Conor S

AU - Khan, Umar

AU - Ryan, Gavin

AU - Barwich, Sebastian

AU - Charifou, Romina

AU - Harvey, Andrew

AU - Backes, Claudia

AU - Li, Zheling

AU - Ferreira, Mauro S

AU - Möbius, Matthias E

AU - Young, Robert J

AU - Coleman, Jonathan N

PY - 2016/12/9

Y1 - 2016/12/9

N2 - Despite its widespread use in nanocomposites, the effect of embedding graphene in highly viscoelastic polymer matrices is not well understood. We added graphene to a lightly cross-linked polysilicone, often encountered as Silly Putty, changing its electromechanical properties substantially. The resulting nanocomposites display unusual electromechanical behavior, such as postdeformation temporal relaxation of electrical resistance and nonmonotonic changes in resistivity with strain. These phenomena are associated with the mobility of the nanosheets in the low-viscosity polymer matrix. By considering both the connectivity and mobility of the nanosheets, we developed a quantitative model that completely describes the electromechanical properties. These nanocomposites are sensitive electromechanical sensors with gauge factors >500 that can measure pulse, blood pressure, and even the impact associated with the footsteps of a small spider.

AB - Despite its widespread use in nanocomposites, the effect of embedding graphene in highly viscoelastic polymer matrices is not well understood. We added graphene to a lightly cross-linked polysilicone, often encountered as Silly Putty, changing its electromechanical properties substantially. The resulting nanocomposites display unusual electromechanical behavior, such as postdeformation temporal relaxation of electrical resistance and nonmonotonic changes in resistivity with strain. These phenomena are associated with the mobility of the nanosheets in the low-viscosity polymer matrix. By considering both the connectivity and mobility of the nanosheets, we developed a quantitative model that completely describes the electromechanical properties. These nanocomposites are sensitive electromechanical sensors with gauge factors >500 that can measure pulse, blood pressure, and even the impact associated with the footsteps of a small spider.

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DO - 10.1126/science.aag2879

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Sensitive electromechanical sensors using viscoelastic graphene-polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

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