Highly sensitive airflow sensors with an ultrathin reduced graphene oxide film inspired by gas exfoliation of graphite oxide

Abstract

Inspired by the gas exfoliation of graphite oxide, a novel airflow sensor is demonstrated with an ultrathin (about 2 nm) reduced graphene oxide (RGO) film with tunable interlayer gaps. The airflow on/off reversibly switches the interlayer gaps of the RGO sheets, and thus changes the electrical conductivity of the RGO film. Remarkably, by virtue of the atomic-scale thickness of the sensing component, RGO sensors show high sensitivity, a wide detection range (tens of mm s⁻¹ to several m s⁻¹), and a low detection limit (26 mm s⁻¹). Such performance is better than that of most of the traditional sensors and near to the capacity of some living beings.