Graphene-based Ultrasensitive Nanostructures

这笔拨款的研究目的是破译石墨烯在各种外部刺激下形态不稳定性的基础科学，并探索新的概念，以推动基于石墨烯的高灵敏度纳米结构用于石墨烯传感。石墨烯由密集排列在蜂窝状晶格中的碳原子组成。石墨烯的二维结构将其整个体积暴露在周围环境中，具有良好的表面化学特性，使其成为一种高效且有前景的传感候选材料。然而，高达单分子水平的石墨烯传感往往伴随着极小幅度的变化指标，这对基于石墨烯的传感的成功构成了巨大的挑战。最近的研究揭示了石墨烯的形态不稳定性，这会导致石墨烯性质的急剧变化，从而大幅增加外部刺激指示剂的幅度。通过破译石墨烯纳米结构在各种外部刺激和干扰下的基础科学，这项研究将为广泛的激动人心的传感应用提供新的途径。石墨烯是迄今证明的最强大的材料，它能够实现机械上坚固的纳米结构，允许长期在重复的外部刺激下进行无人值守的传感/致动。基于石墨烯的传感器的广泛使用将对民用、机械和制造业的健康监测产生重大影响。在教育方面，该项目将利用网络基础设施显著扩大研究和教育活动的影响。

The research objective of this grant is to decipher the underpinning science of graphene's morphologic instabilities under various external stimuli, and explore novel concepts to push the limits of graphene-based nanostructures of high sensitivity for graphene-based sensing. Graphene consists of carbon atoms densely patterned in a honeycomb lattice. Graphene's two dimensional structure exposes its entire volume to its surrounding with well amenable surface chemistry, making it a highly efficient and promising candidate material for sensing. However, graphene-based sensing up to single molecule level often accompanies ultra small amplitude of indicators of change, posing significant challenge to the success of graphene-based sensing. Recent research revealed graphene's morphologic instability, which can lead to a sharp change in graphene properties, thus substantially increase the amplitude of indicator of external stimuli.By deciphering the fundamental science of graphene-based ultrasensitive nanostructures under various external stimuli and interferences, this research will offer new inroads towards a wide range of exciting sensing applications. The strongest material ever demonstrated, graphene enables mechanically robust nanostructures, allowing unattended sensing/actuation under repeated external stimuli over long term. The widespread use of graphene-based sensing will make significant impacts on health monitoring of civil, mechanical and manufacturing. On the educational front, this project will leverage cyberinfrastructures to significantly broaden the impact of the research and educational activities.