Large-Area Ultrathin Graphene Films by Single-Step Marangoni Self-Assembly for Highly Sensitive Strain Sensing Application

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 26; no. 9; pp. 1322 - 1329
• Main Authors: Li, Xinming, Yang, Tingting, Yang, Yao, Zhu, Jia, Li, Li, Alam, Fakhr E., Li, Xiao, Wang, Kunlin, Cheng, Huanyu, Lin, Cheng-Te, Fang, Ying, Zhu, Hongwei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 02.03.2016
• Subjects: Electronics; Graphene; high sensitivity; large area; Platforms; Self assembly; Sensors; Strain; Strain gages; strain sensors; ultrathin graphene films; Wearable
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201504717

Promoted by the demand for wearable devices, graphene has been proved to be a promising material for potential applications in flexible and highly sensitive strain sensors. However, low sensitivity and complex processing of graphene retard the development toward the practical applications. Here, an environment‐friendly and cost‐effective method to fabricate large‐area ultrathin graphene films is proposed for highly sensitive flexible strain sensor. The assembled graphene films are derived rapidly at the liquid/air interface by Marangoni effect and the area can be scaled up. These graphene‐based strain sensors exhibit extremely high sensitivity with gauge factor of 1037 at 2% strain, which represents the highest value for graphene platelets at this small deformation so far. This simple fabrication for strain sensors with highly sensitive performance of strain sensor makes it a novel approach to applications in electronic skin, wearable sensors, and health monitoring platforms. An environment‐friendly and cost‐effective method to fabricate large‐area ultrathin graphene films is proposed for highly sensitive flexible strain sensing applications. This simple Marangoni‐effect‐based fabrication makes it a novel approach to applications in electronic skin, wearable sensors, and health monitoring platforms.