Highly Sensitive Tactile Sensor Using Single Layer Graphene

Tactile sensors have widely been researched in the areas of electronics, robotic system and medical tools for extending to the form of bio inspired devices that generate feeling of touch mimicking those of humans. Recent efforts in adapting the tactile sensor have included the use of novel materials with both scalability and high sensitivity [1]. Graphene, a 2-D allotrope of carbon, is a prospective candidate for sensor technology, having strong mechanical properties [2] and flexibility, including recovery from mechanical stress. In addition, its truly 2-D nature allows the formation of continuous films that are intrinsically useful for realizing sensing functions. However, very few investigations have been carrier out to investigate sensing characteristics as a device form with the graphene subjected to strain/stress and pressure effects. In this study, we present a sensor of vertical forces based on single-layer graphene, with a working range that corresponds to the pressure of a gentle touch that can be perceived by humans. In spite of the low gauge factor that arises from the intrinsic electromechanical character of single-layer graphene, we achieve a resistance variation of about 30% in response to an applied vertical pressure of 5 kPa by introducing a pressure-amplifying structure in the sensor. In addition, we demonstrate a method to enhance the sensitivity of the sensor by applying resistive single-layer graphene.