Hepp, MarcoMarcoHeppWang, HuizeHuizeWangDerr, KatharinaKatharinaDerrDelacroix, SimonSimonDelacroixRonneberger, SebastianSebastianRonnebergerLoeffler, Felix F.Felix F.LoefflerButz, BenjaminBenjaminButzStrauss, VolkerVolkerStrauss2025-11-262025-11-262022-12-01Npj Flexible Electronics 6 (1): 3 (2022)https://hdl.handle.net/11420/59146We describe the mechanical properties of turbostratically graphitized carbon films obtained by carbon laser-patterning (CLaP) and their application as bending or mechanical pressure sensors. Stable conductive carbonized films were imprinted on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate by laser-induced carbonization. After initial gentle bending, i.e. training, these sponge-like porous films show a quantitative and reversible change in resistance upon bending or application of pressure in normal loading direction. Maximum response values of ΔR/R<inf>0</inf> = 388% upon positive bending (tensile stress) and −22.9% upon negative bending (compression) are implicit for their high sensitivity towards mechanical deformation. Normal mechanical loading in a range between 0 and 500 kPa causes a response between ΔR/R<inf>0</inf> = 0 and −15%. The reversible increase or decrease in resistance is attributed to compression or tension of the turbostratically graphitized domains, respectively. This mechanism is supported by a detailed microstructural and chemical high-resolution transmission electron microscopic analysis of the cross-section of the laser-patterned carbon.en#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#20221Technology::600: TechnologyJournal Article10.1038/s41528-022-00136-0Journal Article