Graphene-Metallic Based Moisture Fibre Sensors

There is a rising requirement to integrate the devices and textile together. The first generation smart textile is more focus on using traditional textile method to blending electrical components into the textile and insulate during washing to prevent damage. But these intergradation methods just rough supplementary technology not high integrated, at the expense of aesthetics and convenience. The new generation E-textile is amid to develop a real sense high-integrated technology: fibre based sensors and devices.

Graphene and sensors are a natural combination, as graphene’s large surface-to-volume ratio, unique optical properties, excellent electrical conductivity, high carrier mobility and density, high thermal conductivity and many other attributes can be greatly beneficial for sensor functions. The large surface area of graphene is able to enhance the surface loading of desired biomolecules, and excellent conductivity and small band gap can be beneficial for conducting electrons between biomolecules and the electrode surface.

This PhD project will combine the graphene and fibre by interfacial modification, to form hybrid sensors, which will be used as new generation wearable electronic device. The interaction between graphene and polymeric materials will be deeply study and the relationship with sensory of as-made sensor will be investigated as well.