Highly flexible and sensitive graphene-silver nanocomposite strain sensor

Abstract

We are reporting, a novel reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and silver (Ag) nanocomposite based piezoresistive thin film sensor realized on kapton (polyimide) membrane substrate by drop casting method for strain sensing application. Incorporation of small quantity of (Ag) fillers into RGO, subsequently it can create a novel nanocomposite with improved structural and functional properties. The as-synthesized RGO and nanocomposite were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) for their structural properties and morphology analysis. As fabricated nanocomposite strain sensor undergoes piezoresistive behavior when mechanical strain is applied to the flexible substrate and its output resistance variations have been observed. The electromechanical property of nanocomposite was analyzed with mechanical cantilever bending method and the gauge factor of about 9 to 12 was observed. The change of electrical resistance of the nanocomposite film can be used in sensing mechanism for changes in chemical, biological, vibrational, temperature, pressure, load or force and displacement sensor applications.