Mass Detection Using a Graphene-Based Nanomechanical Resonator

Abstract

The potential of using graphene as a nanomechanical resonator is explored. A graphene-resonator sensor is assumed to be a simply supported rectangular plate. The frequency equation of the sensor with an attached mass is derived analytically using nonlocal elasticity theory. The results indicate that increasing the nonlocal parameter markedly increases the frequency shift of the sensor, and the frequency shift becomes larger as the aspect ratio approaches 1. Therefore, in order to obtain the highest sensitivity, a square geometrical sensor should be used. The mass sensitivity can reach up to 10-27 g/Hz.

Influence of Temperature on Vibrational Frequency of Graphene Sheet Used as Nano-Scale Sensing

“…Graphene sheets appear to be excellent element materials for structures of nanomechanical resonators because they can generate terahertz frequency vibration. Some studies have been carried out on utilizing the molecular dynamics (MD) method [24,25], molecular structural mechanics [26] or continuum mechanics [20,[27][28][29][30] to investigate the applications of single-layer graphene sheets (SLGSs) for NEMS mass sensors. However, there is very little investigation of the resonant frequency of double-layer graphene sheets (DLGSs) used as mass sensors and how temperature affects the vibration frequency of GSs [27].…”

Theoretical Analysis of Vibration Frequency of Graphene Sheets Used as Nanomechanical Mass Sensor

“…Recently, various theoretical studies have been carried out utilizing the molecular dynamics (MD) method [37,38], molecular structural mechanics [39], or continuum mechanics [35,[40][41][42][43] to investigate SLGSs for use in NEMS mass sensors. Arash et al studied the vibration properties of SLGSs with five noble gas atoms (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) attached using MD simulation to evaluate the applicability of graphene mass sensors [37].…”

“…The effects of the nonlocal parameters and the attached mass on the frequency shifts of GSs were investigated using a nonlocal continuum elastic model [42,43]. The obtained results show that the frequency shift of the SLGS became smaller when the effect of nonlocal parameters was taken into account.…”

Graphene-Based Resonant Sensors for Detection of Ultra-Fine Nanoparticles: Molecular Dynamics and Nonlocal Elasticity Investigations

“…Neglecting small-scale e®ects, in a similar work, Adhikari and Chowdhury 17 investigated the possibility of implementing graphene sheets as nanoresonant sensors. Lee et al 18 analyzed mass detection using a graphene-based nanoresonator in the framework of nonlocal elasticity. The graphene sheet was considered as a rectangular nanoplate with an attached mass and equations of motion are analytically solved for simply supported boundary conditions.…”