Applications of Graphene in Five Senses, Nervous System, and Artificial Muscles

Abstract

Graphene remains of great interest in biomedical applications because of biocompatibility. Diseases relating to human senses interfere with life satisfaction and happiness. Therefore, the restoration by artificial organs or sensory devices may bring a bright future by the recovery of senses in patients. In this review, we update the most recent progress in graphene based sensors for mimicking human senses such as artificial retina for image sensors, artificial eardrums, gas sensors, chemical sensors, and tactile sensors. The brain-like processors are discussed based on conventional transistors as well as memristor related neuromorphic computing. The brain−machine interface is introduced for providing a single pathway. Besides, the artificial muscles based on graphene are summarized in the means of actuators in order to react to the physical world. Future opportunities remain for elevating the performances of human-like sensors and their clinical applications.

Tribo‐ferro‐optoelectronic neuromorphic transistor of α‐In2Se3

“…Two‐dimensional van der Waals materials have excellent physical properties, including ultrathin layered structures, no dangling bonds, and high carrier mobility, [5,6] and can be used in many fields, such as smart sensing [7–9] . The α ‐phase indium selenide ( α ‐In 2 Se 3 ) has been widely researched as an emerging two‐dimensional ferroelectric semiconductor [10] possessing in‐plane (IP) or out‐of‐plane (OOP) ferroelectricity at room temperature [11–14] and excellent optoelectronic [15] and thermoelectric properties [16,17] .…”

“…Two-dimensional van der Waals materials have excellent physical properties, including ultrathin layered structures, no dangling bonds, and high carrier mobility, [5,6] and can be used in many fields, such as smart sensing. [7][8][9] The α-phase indium selenide (α-In 2 Se 3 ) has been widely researched as an emerging two-dimensional ferroelectric semiconductor [10] possessing in-plane (IP) or out-of-plane (OOP) ferroelectricity at room temperature [11][12][13][14] and excellent optoelectronic [15] and thermoelectric properties. [16,17] In recent years, α-In 2 Se 3 has been mainly used in ferroelectric junctions [18][19][20] and ferroelectric semiconductor-based field effect transistors, [21][22][23][24] presenting important applications in nonvolatile storage, neuromorphic computing, photodetection, and photovoltaics.…”

Bi2O2Se/Xene for Steep-Slope Transistors

“…The story of 2D materials starts in 2004 with the discovery of atomically thin graphene, 2,3 which is a gapless 2D material with Dirac cone-shaped electronic band structure. Currently, the family of 2D materials already consists of a large number of members, ranging from elemental materials to compounds.…”

“…The story of 2D materials starts in 2004 with the discovery of atomically thin graphene, , which is a gapless 2D material with Dirac cone-shaped electronic band structure. Currently, the family of 2D materials already consists of a large number of members, ranging from elemental materials to compounds. − In addition to their novel 2D structures, another unique property of 2D materials is their ability to form stacking structures with the same materials (layered 2D materials) or different (heterostructures), normally via interlayer van der Waals forces.…”

The Three Laws of Nano-Robotics

“…From the manufacturing tools used on the factory floor, to the inventory control devices used in commercial warehouses, even to the vacuum cleaners used in our homes, robots are deeply embedded in our daily lives. Modern analytical and clinical laboratories are critically dependent on robotic instrumentation for high-throughput analyses, and readers of ACS Sensors have begun to see how integration of the wide range of chemical and biological sensors into robots will massively expand the capabilities of these systems. − As miniaturization and nanotechnological tools have evolved, the shrinking of these robots and their sensory systems to the nanoscale has brought its own set of promises and challenges.…”