Fabrication and Investigation of Graphene-Rubber Nanocomposite Based Multifunctional Flexible Sensors

This study presents the design, fabrication, investigation and properties of the elastic multifunctional sensors based on graphene-rubber nanocomposite. The sensors are sensitive to stretching force, acceleration and temperature. The sensors were fabricated using pressing-sliding (or rubbing-in) technology. In the process of fabrication, the graphene powder was penetrated in (built-in) bulky rubber substrate forming the solid nanocomposite. The change in DC resistance and impedance (at a frequency of up to 200 kHz) of the samples were measured in the temperature interval of 26-60 ºC. The effects of stretching force (up to 19 gf) and acceleration (up to 19 m/s2) were also investigated and it was found that in both cases the resistance and the impedance decreased by 14% and 16%, accordingly. Under the normal conditions, by changing the temperature from 26 to 60 ºC the resistance and the impedance were changed by 35% and 28%, respectively. These changes of the investigated parameters of the sensors under the effect of force and acceleration may be, firstly, due to the increasing distances between particles of graphene in the composite. Secondly, it may be due to changing of the intrinsic properties of the particles and rubber under the effect of the temperature on the nanocomposite.