Graphene-Based Sensor for Low Stain Sensing Applications

Abstract

The innovation and application of advanced functional materials have significantly contributed to the development of sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM)-oriented applications, paving the way for a new era of intelligent structures. Graphene-based sensors have emerged as highly promising owing to their remarkable mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Such sensors offer high sensitivity, excellent stretchability, and multifunctional capabilities for detecting various structural parameters. This work explores the development and characterisation of graphene ink films for low-strain sensing applications. Conductive graphene ink films are fabricated using the electrospinning technique. The morphology, electrical properties, and gauge factor of the films are investigated. The effect of strain rate variation on the sensing performance is also investigated. The gauge factor ranges from 10.2 to 11.3 under every condition. Additionally, cyclic bending tests confirm the repeatability and stability of the sensors, demonstrating minimal signal drift and consistent gauge factor performance across loading cycles. The results indicate that graphene ink films offer an easy, power-efficient, weightless and non-intrusive solution for low-strain sensing with potential applications in areas such as SHM and wearable electronics.