A flyweight and superelastic graphene aerogel as a high-capacity adsorbent and highly sensitive pressure sensor

Abstract

The preparation of ultralight, superelastic and multifunctional graphene aerogels still remains a challenge. Herein we develop a silane-crosslinked and modified graphene aerogel (SGA) using a novel and simple method of chemical vapor deposition of methyltriethoxysilane into graphene oxide aerogels. The SGA is mechanically robust and shows fantastic properties satisfying multiple applications. Firstly, the SGA exhibits hitherto the highest compression recoverability (99.5%), as well as a high energy loss coefficient and cycle stability. Secondly, the compressible and ultralight (minimum density of 0.35 mg cm⁻³) SGA could serve as a fast and recyclable superadsorbent being able to adsorb various organic liquids with ultrahigh capacity (>1000 g g⁻¹), which is almost the highest value among known adsorbents. Moreover, the electrical resistance of SGA is highly sensitive to compressive strain and applied pressure due to the enhanced connection between adjacent graphene sheets, which makes the SGA a great pressure sensor with high sensitivity (−67.1 kPa⁻¹) and a low detection limit (<30 Pa); the SGA demonstrates great potential in real-time monitoring of subtle actions like the beat of water droplets. Therefore, the flyweight and mechanically robust SGA holds fantastic properties and great potential in multiple applications.