Flyweight and Superelastic Graphene Aerogel as High-capacity Adsorbent and Highly Sensitive Pressure Sensor

Jianliang Xiao, Yeqiang Tan, Yihu Song, Qiang Zheng

Index: 10.1039/C7TA11348J

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Abstract

Preparation of ultralight, superelastic and multifunctional graphene aerogels still remains a challenge. Herein we develop a silane-crosslinked and modified graphene aerogels (SGA) using a novel and simple method of chemical vapor deposition of methyltriethoxysilane into graphene oxide aerogels. The SGA is mechanically robust and shows fantastic properties satisfying multiple applications. Firstly, SGA exhibits hitherto the highest compression recoverability (99.5 %), as well as high energy loss coefficient and cycle stability. Secondly, the compressible and ultralight (minimum density of 0.35 mg/cm3) SGA could serve as a fast and recyclable superadsorbent being able to adsorb various organic liquids with ultrahigh capacity (> 1000 g/g), which is almost the highest value among known adsorbents. Moreover, the electrical resistance of SGA is highly sensitive to the compressive strain and applied pressure due to the enhanced connection between adjacent graphene sheets, which makes SGA a great pressure sensor with high sensitivity (-67.1 kPa-1) and low detection limit (< 30 Pa); SGA demonstrates great potential in real-time monitoring subtle actions like the beat of water droplets. Therefore, the flyweight and mechanically robust SGA holds fantastic properties and great potential in multiple applications.