Hierarchical Aerographite 3D flexible networks hybridized by InP micro/nanostructures for strain sensor applications

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 13880 - 10
• Main Authors: Plesco, Irina, Strobel, Julian, Schütt, Fabian, Himcinschi, Cameliu, Ben Sedrine, Nabiha, Monteiro, Teresa, Correia, Maria Rosário, Gorceac, Leonid, Cinic, Boris, Ursaki, Veaceslav, Marx, Janik, Fiedler, Bodo, Mishra, Yogendra Kumar, Kienle, Lorenz, Adelung, Rainer, Tiginyanu, Ion
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 17-09-2018; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 140/133; 639/301/1005/1009; 639/925/357/551; Composite materials; Crystals; Electrical conductivity; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hybridization; multidisciplinary; Nanotechnology; Scanning electron microscopy; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Spatial distribution; Strain; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction; Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy (HVPE); HVPE Process; Piezoresistive Strain Sensors; In2O3 Nanowires; Strain-sensing Applications
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32005-0

In the present work, we report on development of three-dimensional flexible architectures consisting of an extremely porous three-dimensional Aerographite (AG) backbone decorated by InP micro/nanocrystallites grown by a single step hydride vapor phase epitaxy process. The systematic investigation of the hybrid materials by scanning electron microscopy demonstrates a rather uniform spatial distribution of InP crystallites without agglomeration on the surface of Aerographite microtubular structures. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and Raman scattering analysis demonstrate that InP crystallites grown on bare Aerographite are of zincblende structure, while a preliminary functionalization of the Aerographite backbone with Au nanodots promotes the formation of crystalline In
2
O
3
nanowires as well as gold-indium oxide core-shell nanostructures. The electromechanical properties of the hybrid AG-InP composite material are shown to be better than those of previously reported bare AG and AG-GaN networks. Robustness, elastic behavior and excellent translation of the mechanical deformation to variations in electrical conductivity highlight the prospects of AG-InP applications in tactile/strain sensors and other device structures related to flexible electronics.