Mechanical Pressure Characterization of CNT-Graphene Composite Material.

Asar Ali,Muhammad Irfan,Salman Qamar,Adam Glowacz,Jose Alfonso Antonino-Daviu,Wahyu Caesarendra,Fazal Muhammad,Farman Ali

doi:10.3390/mi11111000

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene are extensively studied materials in the field of sensing technology and other electronic devices due to their better functional and structural properties. Additionally, more attention is given to utilize these materials as a filler to reinforce the properties of other materials. However, the role of weight percentage of CNTs in the piezoresistive properties of these materials has not been reported yet. In this work, CNT-graphene composite-based piezoresistive pressure samples in the form of pellets with different weight percentages of CNTs were fabricated and characterized. All the samples exhibit a decrease in the direct current (DC) resistance with the increase in external uniaxial applied pressure from 0 to 74.8 kNm−2. However, under the same external uniaxial applied pressure, the DC resistance exhibit more decrease as the weight percentage of the CNTs increase in the composites.

Highlights

Graphene is one atom thick two-dimensional honeycomb layers sp2-hybredized carbon atoms; while multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are formed by the rolling the graphene sheets into concentric cylindrical shapes with interlayer separation of 0.34 nm [1,2]
The surface morphology of the piezoresistive pressure samples was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM, model: JSM5910, energy: 30 KV, magnification (Max): 300,000×, resolution power (Max): 2.3 nm, manufacturer: JEOL, Tokyo, Japan)
Scanning Electron Microscopy MicromachTinhese20s2u0,rf1a1,c1e00m0 orphology of the piezoresistive pressure samples was examined by s6coafn1n1ing electron microscope (SEM, model: JSM5910, energy: 30 KV, magnification (Max): 300,000×, withredsoiffluetrieonnt pwoewigehrt(pMeracxe)n: t2a.3gensm20,m4a0n, 6u0fa, catnudre8r0: JoEfOCLN, TTso(kCyNo,TJa2p0,aCn)N

Summary

Introduction

Graphene is one atom thick two-dimensional honeycomb layers sp2-hybredized carbon atoms; while multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are formed by the rolling the graphene sheets into concentric cylindrical shapes with interlayer separation of 0.34 nm [1,2]. More than one hundred years back, it has been invented that carbon nanomaterials are sensitive to the variation in environmental pressure, and Alexander Graham Bell patented the first telephone in 19th century by using this effect [3]. In recent decades, these materials have drawn much attention due to their high gauge factor, exceptional mechanical properties, high thermal, large specific surface area, high electrical conductivities, low density, and remarkable piezoresistive properties [4]. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of graphene and CNTs are 160 GPa and 1.0 TPa, respectively [5–7] By reason of these unique properties, more attention is given to explore these materials as fillers [8–10] to improve the properties of other materials. It is believed that this approach will further enhance the practical applications of CNTs, graphene, and its composites in the field of nanomaterial-based pressure sensors, actuators, and other electronic devices

Materials

Samples Fabrication

Scanning Electron Microscopy

Results and Discussion

Conclusions