Development of graphene-based systems with special magnetic properties

该项目的目标是利用基于石墨烯的纳米复合材料来检测低磁场，从而开发出一种巨磁电阻(GMR)传感器。巨磁电阻效应是指材料在磁场作用下的电阻发生显著变化。巨磁电阻传感器通常由磁性/非磁性/磁性多层膜构成，在工业上已被用于测量和控制目的。对尺寸小、功耗低的磁传感器提出了很高的要求。在这里，我们提出了一种基于石墨烯的纳米复合体系，具有GMR效应，用于检测低磁场(&lt；10KOe)。圣珍碳素公司(SJC)是一家致力于开发石墨烯产品的加拿大矿业公司。与SJC合作，我们将专注于三个主要方面来实现研究目标：(1)开发将磁性纳米颗粒加载到石墨烯薄片上的物理和化学工艺；(2)设计和表征具有GMR效应的工程石墨烯的微结构和磁性；(3)开发用于检测低磁场(&lt；10KOe)的石墨烯GMR传感器的概念验证。预计这一拟议中的NSERC CRD项目将对应用先进的纳米技术将加拿大石墨采矿业转变为高科技产业产生重大影响。参与该项目的学员将能够在开发具有特殊磁性的石墨烯系统方面获得坚实的经验。

The goal of this proposed project is to develop a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor by using graphene-based nanocompoistes to detect low magnetic field. GMR effect refers the significant change of electrical resistance of materials under a magnetic field. GMR sensor is normally made of magnetic/non-magnetic/magnetic multilayer, and have been used in industry for measurement and control purpose. The magnetic sensors with small dimensions and low power consumption are highly demanded. We herein propose a graphene-based nanocomposite system with GMR effect to detect low magnetic field (<10KOe). Saint Jean Carbon Inc. (SJC) is a Canadian mining company with efforts on developing graphene products. Working with SJC, we will focus on three main aspects to achieve the research goal: (1) development of physical and chemical processes for loading magnetic nanoparticles on graphene sheets; (2) design and characterization of the microstructures and magnetic properties of engineered graphene to have GMR effect; (3) development of a proof of concept on graphene-based GMR sensor for detecting low magnetic field (<10KOe). It is expected that this proposed NSERC CRD project will have a significant impact to convert Canadian graphite mining industry into high-tech industry through applying advanced nanotechnology. Trainees involved in this project will be able to gain solid experience in development of graphene-based systems with special magnetic properties.