Developing ultrasensitive pressure sensor based on graphene nanoribbon: Molecular dynamics simulation

We propose schematics for an ultra-sensitive pressure sensor based on graphene-nanoribbon (GNR) and investigate its electromechanical properties using classical molecular dynamics simulations and piezo-electricity theory. Since the top plate applied to the actual pressure is large whereas the contact area on the GNR is very small, both the sensitivity and the sensing range can be adjusted by controlling the aspect ratio between the top plate and the contact point areas. Our calculation shows that the electrical conductivity of GNRs can be tuned by the applied pressure and the electric conductance of the deflected GNR linearly increases with increasing applied pressure for the linear elastic region in low pressure below the cut-off point. In the curves for both the deflection and potential energy, the linear elastic regime in low pressure was explicitly separated with the non-linear elastic regime in high pressure. The proposed GNR-based nanoelectromechanical devices have great potential for application as electromechanical memory, relay or switching devices.

Graphical abstractWe propose schematics for an ultra-sensitive pressure sensor based on graphene-nanoribbon and investigate its electromechanical properties using classical molecular dynamics simulations and piezo-electricity theory.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Schematics for an ultra-sensitive pressure sensor based on graphene-nanoribbon. ► Classical molecular dynamics modeling of graphene-nanoribbon pressure sensor. ► Tuning the electrical conductivity of GNRs by the applied pressure.