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Graphene sensors and optoelectronics

Graphene sensing and optoelectronics in six panels: single NO₂ molecules detected as resistance steps, a metal–graphene–metal photodetector and its frequency response, a flexible transparent electrode and transparent neural electrodes that neurons are imaged through.

Updated 14 October 20269 cited papers45 editable layers

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At a glance

Category: Graphene research
Method: Sensors
Starting materials: Exfoliated and CVD graphene on SiO₂/Si or PET
Product: Gas sensors, photodetectors and transparent electrodes
Key result: Devices drawn in 3D after the cited papers, heights exaggerated; resistance steps and frequency response computed from the cited values
Figure: 1920 × 1080 px (16:9), 45 editable layers, 6 generated objects

Step by step

Single-molecule sensorMicrometre-size graphene sensors detect single gas molecules: each one that attaches or detaches changes the local carrier concentration by one electron (Schedin et al. 2007); NO₂ is a strong acceptor, its dimer N₂O₄ dopes only weakly (Wehling et al. 2008)
Resistance stepsEach attachment or detachment is a step in the resistance; graphene is exceptionally low in noise (Schedin et al. 2007); resist residue dopes graphene and concentrates analyte (Dan et al. 2009)
PhotodetectorGraphene on SiO₂ over a Si back gate with Ti/Au contacts; at the metal–graphene junction the local field separates electrons and holes, so it works without a source–drain bias (Xia et al. 2009; Park et al. 2009)
How fastNo degradation up to 40 GHz (Xia et al. 2009); an intrinsic response time of 2.1 ps, a bandwidth of ≈ 262 GHz (Urich et al. 2011)
Transparent electrodeRoll-to-roll, predominantly monolayer 30-inch CVD films: sheet resistance as low as ≈ 125 Ω/sq at 97.4 % transmittance; doped four-layer films ≈ 30 Ω/sq at ≈ 90 % (Bae et al. 2010)
See through the electrodeNeurons in hippocampal slices were imaged through transparent graphene electrodes by confocal and two-photon microscopy with no light-induced artefacts in the recordings (Kuzum et al. 2014)

Strengths

Every atom is on the surface
Fast, unbiased photodetection (Xia et al. 2009)
Transparent and flexible (Bae et al. 2010)

Limitations

Residues and substrates change the response (Dan et al. 2009)
About 2 % absorption limits the responsivity (Xia et al. 2009)

Uses

Gas and chemical sensors
Optical communications
Touch screens and bioelectronics

Papers this template follows

Schedin et al., “Detection of individual gas molecules adsorbed on graphene”, Nat. Mater. 2007. doi:10.1038/nmat1967primary
Xia et al., “Ultrafast graphene photodetector”, Nat. Nanotechnol. 2009. doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.292primary
Urich, Unterrainer & Mueller, “Intrinsic response time of graphene photodetectors”, Nano Lett. 2011. doi:10.1021/nl2011388primary
Bae et al., “Roll-to-roll production of 30-inch graphene films for transparent electrodes”, Nat. Nanotechnol. 2010. doi:10.1038/nnano.2010.132primary
Kuzum et al., “Transparent and flexible low noise graphene electrodes for simultaneous electrophysiology and neuroimaging”, Nat. Commun. 2014. doi:10.1038/ncomms6259primary
Wehling et al., “Molecular doping of graphene”, Nano Lett. 2008. doi:10.1021/nl072364wfurther reading
Dan et al., “Intrinsic response of graphene vapor sensors”, Nano Lett. 2009. doi:10.1021/nl8033637further reading
Park, Ahn & Ruiz-Vargas, “Imaging of photocurrent generation and collection in single-layer graphene”, Nano Lett. 2009. doi:10.1021/nl8029493further reading
Echtermeyer et al., “Surface plasmon polariton graphene photodetectors”, Nano Lett. 2016. doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b02051further reading

Drawn and computed by LabCanvas after Schedin et al., Nat. Mater. 2007 (doi:10.1038/nmat1967), Xia et al., Nat. Nanotechnol. 2009, Urich et al., Nano Lett. 2011, Bae et al., Nat. Nanotechnol. 2010, Kuzum et al., Nat. Commun. 2014, and the papers in the details.

How templates are written and checked: editorial guidelines.

Questions

What does the “Graphene sensors and optoelectronics” template show?

What are the steps shown in “Graphene sensors and optoelectronics”?

1. Single-molecule sensor: Micrometre-size graphene sensors detect single gas molecules: each one that attaches or detaches changes the local carrier concentration by one electron (Schedin et al. 2007); NO₂ is a strong acceptor, its dimer N₂O₄ dopes only weakly (Wehling et al. 2008). 2. Resistance steps: Each attachment or detachment is a step in the resistance; graphene is exceptionally low in noise (Schedin et al. 2007); resist residue dopes graphene and concentrates analyte (Dan et al. 2009). 3. Photodetector: Graphene on SiO₂ over a Si back gate with Ti/Au contacts; at the metal–graphene junction the local field separates electrons and holes, so it works without a source–drain bias (Xia et al. 2009; Park et al. 2009). 4. How fast: No degradation up to 40 GHz (Xia et al. 2009); an intrinsic response time of 2.1 ps, a bandwidth of ≈ 262 GHz (Urich et al. 2011). 5. Transparent electrode: Roll-to-roll, predominantly monolayer 30-inch CVD films: sheet resistance as low as ≈ 125 Ω/sq at 97.4 % transmittance; doped four-layer films ≈ 30 Ω/sq at ≈ 90 % (Bae et al. 2010). 6. See through the electrode: Neurons in hippocampal slices were imaged through transparent graphene electrodes by confocal and two-photon microscopy with no light-induced artefacts in the recordings (Kuzum et al. 2014).

What are the starting materials and the product?

Starting materials: Exfoliated and CVD graphene on SiO₂/Si or PET. Product: Gas sensors, photodetectors and transparent electrodes.

Which papers is “Graphene sensors and optoelectronics” based on?

Schedin et al., “Detection of individual gas molecules adsorbed on graphene”, Nat. Mater. 2007 (doi:10.1038/nmat1967); Xia et al., “Ultrafast graphene photodetector”, Nat. Nanotechnol. 2009 (doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.292); Urich, Unterrainer & Mueller, “Intrinsic response time of graphene photodetectors”, Nano Lett. 2011 (doi:10.1021/nl2011388); Bae et al., “Roll-to-roll production of 30-inch graphene films for transparent electrodes”, Nat. Nanotechnol. 2010 (doi:10.1038/nnano.2010.132); Kuzum et al., “Transparent and flexible low noise graphene electrodes for simultaneous electrophysiology and neuroimaging”, Nat. Commun. 2014 (doi:10.1038/ncomms6259); Wehling et al., “Molecular doping of graphene”, Nano Lett. 2008 (doi:10.1021/nl072364w); Dan et al., “Intrinsic response of graphene vapor sensors”, Nano Lett. 2009 (doi:10.1021/nl8033637); Park, Ahn & Ruiz-Vargas, “Imaging of photocurrent generation and collection in single-layer graphene”, Nano Lett. 2009 (doi:10.1021/nl8029493); Echtermeyer et al., “Surface plasmon polariton graphene photodetectors”, Nano Lett. 2016 (doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b02051).

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graphene sensorgas sensorsingle molecule detectionNO2photodetectoroptoelectronicsultrafasttransparent electrodetransparent conductorITO replacementflexible electronicsneural electrodebioelectronics