Ballistic graphene array for ultra-high pressure sensing

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that ballistic graphene arrays can achieve ultra-high pressure sensitivity, surpassing other 2D materials, by leveraging miniaturization and membrane theory to enable next-generation NEMS pressure sensors.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach using ballistic graphene arrays for ultra-high pressure sensing, significantly improving sensitivity and range over existing 2D material sensors.

Findings

Ballistic graphene can measure pressures up to 10^9 Pa with higher sensitivity.

Miniaturization enhances the performance of graphene pressure sensors.

Array configuration further improves sensitivity and pressure range.

Abstract

Atomically thin two-dimensional materials such as graphene exhibit extremely high-pressure sensitivity compared to the commercially used pressure sensors due to their high surface-to-volume ratio and excellent mechanical properties. The smaller piezoresistance of graphene across different transport regimes limits its pressure sensitivity compared to other two-dimensional materials. Using membrane theory and thin-film adhesivity model, we show miniaturization as means to enhance theoverall performance of graphene pressure sensors. Our findings reveal that ballistic graphene canbe configured to measure ultra-high pressure (10^9 Pa) with many-fold higher sensitivity per unit area than quasi-ballistic graphene, diffusive graphene, and thin layers of transition metal dichalcogenides. Based on these findings, we propose an array of ballistic graphene sensors with extremely high-pressure sensitivity and ultra high-pressure range that will find applications in next-generation NEMS pressure sensors. The performance parameters of the array sensors can be further enhancedby reducing the size of graphene membranes and increasing the number of sensors in the array. The methodology developed in this paper can be used to explore similar applications using other two-dimensional materials.