The integration of 2D materials for photonic applications is not compatible with high-volume manufacturing. We report a generic methodology that uses only readily available semiconductor equipment and experimentally demonstrate the stacking of graphene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂).

Nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) sensors and actuators could be of use in the development of next-generation mobile, wearable and implantable devices. However, these NEMS devices require transducers that are ultra-small, sensitive and can be fabricated at low cost. Here, we show that suspended double-layer graphene ribbons with attached silicon proof masses can be used as combined spring–mass and piezoresistive transducers. The transducers, which are created using processes that are compatible with large-scale semiconductor manufacturing technologies, can yield NEMS accelerometers that occupy at least two orders of magnitude smaller die area than conventional state-of-the-art silicon accelerometers. With our devices, we also extract the Young’s modulus values of double-layer graphene and show that the graphene ribbons have significant built-in stresses.

Graphene is an atomically thin material that features unique electrical and mechanical properties, which makes it an extremely promising material for future nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). Recently, basic NEMS accelerometer functionality has been demonstrated by utilizing piezoresistive graphene ribbons with suspended silicon proof masses. However, the proposed graphene ribbons have limitations regarding mechanical robustness, manufacturing yield, and the maximum measurement current that can be applied across the ribbons. Here, we report on suspended graphene membranes that are fully clamped at their circumference and have attached silicon proof masses. We demonstrate their utility as piezoresistive NEMS accelerometers, and they are found to be more robust, have longer life span and higher manufacturing yield, can withstand higher measurement currents, and are able to suspend larger silicon proof masses, as compared to the previous graphene ribbon devices. These findings are an important step toward bringing ultraminiaturized piezoresistive graphene NEMS closer toward deployment in emerging applications such as in wearable electronics, biomedical implants, and internet of things (IoT) devices.

Graphene has interesting gas sensing properties with strong responses of the graphene resistance when exposed to gases. However, the resistance response of double-layer graphene when exposed to humidity and gasses has not yet been characterized and understood. In this paper we study the resistance response of double-layer graphene when exposed to humidity and CO₂, respectively. The measured response and recovery times of the graphene resistance to humidity are on the order of several hundred milliseconds. For relative humidity levels of less than ~ 3% RH, the resistance of double-layer graphene is not significantly influenced by the humidity variation. We use such a low humidity atmosphere to investigate the resistance response of double-layer graphene that is exposed to pure CO₂ gas, showing a consistent response and recovery behaviour. The resistance of the double-layer graphene decreases linearly with increase of the concentration of pure CO₂ gas. Density functional theory simulations indicate that double-layer graphene has a weaker gas response compared to single-layer graphene, which is in agreement with our experimental data. Our investigations contribute to improved understanding of the humidity and CO₂ gas sensing properties of double-layer graphene which is important for realizing viable graphene-based gas sensors in the future.

The electrical contact resistance at metal–graphene interfaces can significantly degrade the properties of graphene devices and is currently hindering the full exploitation of graphene’s potential. Therefore, the influence of environmental factors, such as humidity, on the metal–graphene contact resistance is of interest for all graphene devices that operate without hermetic packaging. We experimentally studied the influence of humidity on bottom-contacted chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) graphene–gold contacts, by extracting the contact resistance from transmission line model (TLM) test structures. Our results indicate that the contact resistance is not significantly affected by changes in relative humidity (RH). This behavior is in contrast to the measured humidity sensitivity  of graphene’s sheet resistance. In addition, we employ density functional theory (DFT) simulations to support our experimental observations. Our DFT simulation results demonstrate that the electronic structure of the graphene sheet on top of silica is much more sensitive to adsorbed water molecules than the charge density at the interface between gold and graphene. Thus, we predict no degradation of device performance by alterations in contact resistance when such contacts are exposed to humidity. This knowledge underlines that bottom-contacting of graphene is a viable approach for a variety of graphene devices and the back end of the line integration on top of conventional integrated circuits.

Inkjet printing of graphene and 2D material thin films will play an important role in printed electronics. In this chapter, the present status and challenges in the relevant research fields are reviewed. The key processing steps for the thin film printing are systematically introduced, including ink formulation, jetting and patterning, ink drying, and posttreatments. In each step, the recent strategies and implementations for the improvement of the printed thin film quality are overviewed. Several promising applications based on printed 2D material thin films are discussed and the trends in the research fields are forecast.

We present graphene-based CO2 sensing and analyze its cross-sensitivity with humidity. In order to assess the selectivity of graphene-based gas sensing to various gases, measurements are performed in argon (Ar), nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and air by selectively venting the desired gas from compressed gas bottles into an evacuated vacuum chamber. The sensors provide a direct electrical readout in response to changes in high concentrations, from these bottles, of CO2, O2, nitrogen and argon, as well as changes in humidity from venting atmospheric air. From the signal response to each gas species, the relative graphene sensitivity to each gas is extracted as a relationship between the percentage-change in graphene's resistance response to changes in vacuum chamber pressure. Although there is virtually no response from O2, N2 and Ar, there is a sizeable cross-sensitivity between CO2 and humidity occurring at high CO2 concentrations. However, under atmospheric concentrations of CO2, this cross-sensitivity effect is negligible – allowing for the use of graphene-based humidity sensing in atmospheric environments. Finally, charge density difference calculations, computed using density functional theory (DFT) are presented in order to illustrate the bonding of CO2 and water molecules on graphene and the alterations of the graphene electronic structure due to the interactions with the substrate and the molecules.

Graphene has a wide range of attractive electrical and mechanical properties. This unique blend of properties make it a good candidate for emerging and future device technologies, such as sensors, high frequency electronics, and energy storage devices. In this review paper, each of the aforementioned applications will be explored along with demonstrations of their operating principles. Specifically, we explore pressure and humidity sensors, graphene base transistor for high frequency applications, and supercapacitors. In addition, this paper provides a general overview of these graphene technologies and, in the case of pressure and humidity sensors, benchmarking against other competing technologies. This paper further shows possible and prospective paths that are suitable for future graphene research to take.

Graphene has extraordinary mechanical and electronic properties, making it a promising material for membrane based nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). Here, three methods for direct transfer of chemical vapor deposited graphene onto pre-fabricated micro cavity substrates were investigated and analyzed with respect to yield and quality of the free-standing membranes on a large-scale. An effective transfer method for layer-by-layer stacking of graphene was developed to improve the membrane stability and thereby increase the yield of completely covered and sealed cavities. The transfer method with the highest yield was used to fabricate graphene NEMS devices. Electrical measurements were carried out to successfully demonstrate pressure sensing as a possible application for these graphene membranes.

Graphene membranes act as highly sensitive transducers in nanoelectromechanical devices due to their ultimate thinness. Previously, the piezoresistive effect has been experimentally verified in graphene using uniaxial strain in graphene. Here, we report experimental and theoretical data on the uni- and biaxial piezoresistive properties of suspended graphene membranes applied to piezoresistive pressure sensors. A detailed model that utilizes a linearized Boltzman transport equation describes accurately the charge-carrier density and mobility in strained graphene and, hence, the gauge factor. The gauge factor is found to be practically independent of the doping concentration and crystallographic orientation of the graphene films. These investigations provide deeper insight into the piezoresistive behavior of graphene membranes.