Multifunctional Flexible Sensor Based on Laser-Induced Graphene

• Main Authors: Tao Han, Anindya Nag, Roy B. V. B. Simorangkir, Nasrin Afsarimanesh, Hangrui Liu, Subhas Chandra Mukhopadhyay, Yongzhao Xu, Maxim Zhadobov, Ronan Sauleau
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-08-01
• Series: Sensors
• Subjects: capacitive sensors; electrochemical sensing; flexible sensors; interdigital; laser-induced graphene; strain sensing; wearable sensors
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/19/16/3477

The paper presents the design and fabrication of a low-cost and easy-to-fabricate laser-induced graphene sensor together with its implementation for multi-sensing applications. Laser-irradiation of commercial polymer film was applied for photo-thermal generation of graphene. The graphene patterned in an interdigitated shape was transferred onto Kapton sticky tape to form the electrodes of a capacitive sensor. The functionality of the sensor was validated by employing them in electrochemical and strain-sensing scenarios. Impedance spectroscopy was applied to investigate the response of the sensor. For the electrochemical sensing, different concentrations of sodium sulfate were prepared, and the fabricated sensor was used to detect the concentration differences. For the strain sensing, the sensor was deployed for monitoring of human joint movements and tactile sensing. The promising sensing results validating the applicability of the fabricated sensor for multiple sensing purposes are presented.