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Sensitive electromechanical sensors using viscoelastic graphene-polymer nanocomposites
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 18:17 authored by Conor BolandConor Boland, Umar Khan, Gavin Ryan, Sebastian Barwich, Romina Charifou, Andrew Harvey, Claudia Backes, Zheling Li, Mauro S Ferreira, Matthia E Möbius, Robert J Young, Jonathan N ColemanDespite its widespread use in nanocomposites, the effect of embedding graphene in highly viscoelastic polymer matrices is not well-understood. We add graphene to a lightly cross-linked polysilicone, often encountered as Silly Putty, changing its electro-mechanical properties significantly. The resulting nanocomposites display unusual electromechanical behavior such as post-deformation temporal relaxation of electrical resistance and non-monotonic 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 develop a quantitative model that completely describes the electromechanical properties. These nanocomposites are sensitive electromechanical sensors with gauge factors >500 which can measure pulse, blood pressure and even the impact associated with the footsteps of a small spider.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
ScienceISSN
0036-8075Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of ScienceExternal DOI
Issue
6317Volume
354Page range
1257-1260Department affiliated with
- Physics and Astronomy Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Materials Physics Group Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes