An atomic-resolution nanomechanical mass sensor based on circular monolayer graphene sheet: Theoretical analysis of vibrational properties

Abstract

Graphene sheet (GS) is a two-dimensional material with extremely favorable mass sensor properties. In this work, the potential of a nanoscale mass sensor based on individual single layer GS is examined. An atomic-resolution nanomechanical mass sensor is modeled by a fixed supported circular monolayer GS with attached nanoparticles, based on a continuum elastic model and Rayleigh's energy method. We analyze the vibrational properties of the GS used as a mass sensor in detail, and the relationship between the attached mass and the vibrational frequency (frequency shift) of the GS is simulated and discussed using the two models. The sensitivity of vibrational frequency (frequency shift) to both aspect ratio and vibration mode is demonstrated, and comparison of the two models proves their accuracy and that of the simulation of the monolayer GS mass sensor.