A review on applications of carbon nanotubes and graphenes as nano-resonator sensors

• Published in: Computational materials science Vol. 82; pp. 350 - 360
• Main Authors: Wang, Quan, Arash, Behrouz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.02.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes; Exact sciences and technology; Graphene sheets; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Mechanical instruments, equipment and techniques; Micromechanical devices and systems; Nano-resonators; Nano-sensors; Physics; Resonant frequencies; Wave propagations; Carbon nanotubes; Nano-sensors; Nano-resonators; Wave propagations; Graphene sheets; Resonant frequencies; Nanoelectromechanical device; Vibrations; Wave propagation; Electromechanical resonator; Graphene; Resonance frequency; Continuum mechanics; Sensors; Nanotechnology
• ISSN: 0927-0256; 1879-0801
• DOI: 10.1016/j.commatsci.2013.10.010

•Nano-resonator sensors made of carbon nanotubes and graphene sheets are reviewed.•Vibration- and wave propagation-based nano-sensors are introduced.•Atomic simulations and continuum models in modeling of nano-sensors are presented.•The detection of atoms/molecules with nano-resonator sensors is explored.•Future potential studies on applications of nano-resonator sensors are recommended. A variety of nano-resonator sensors made of carbon nanotubes and graphene sheets for detection of atoms/molecules based on vibration and wave propagation analyses from experimental studies, atomic simulations, and continuum mechanics are introduced and reviewed. The principle of nano-resonator sensors is to detect shifts in resonant frequencies or the wave velocities in the nano-sensors caused by surrounding foreign atoms or molecules. The sensitivity of the sensors and their applicability in differentiation of distinct types of atoms/molecules from atomic simulations are particularly discussed in details. Limitations of applications of continuum models are also discussed. Summary and recommendations for future research are then provided. The review aims to provide a state-of-the-art introduction of the potential of carbon nanotubes and graphene sheets resonator sensors, and inspire further applications of the nano-materials in design of nano-resonator sensors.