This thesis reports the discovery of a wide negative di↵erential resistance (NDR) region in a graphite-silicone composite that was utilized to create a strain-tuned flexible oscillator. Encoding the strain into frequency mimics the behavior of mechanoreceptor neurons in the skin and demonstrates a flexible and electronically active material suitable for state of the art bio-electronic applications. The NDR was investigated over a range of composite filling fractions and temperatures; alongside theoretical modelling to calculate the tunneling current through a graphite-silicone barrier. This led to the understanding that the NDR is the result of a semi-metal to insulator transition of embedded graphene bilayers within the graphite nanoparticles. The transition, brought about by a transverse bias across specifically orientated particles, opens a partial band-gap at the Fermi level of the bilayer. NDR in a flexible material has not been observed before and has potential for creating a flexible active device. The electromechanical properties of the composite were considered through a bend induced bilayer strain. The piezoresistance was found to be dominated by transient resistance spiking from the breaking of conduction lines, which then reform according to the viscoelasticity of the polymer matrix. The resistance spiking was embraced as a novel method for sensitive di↵erential pressure detection, used in the development of two applications. Firstly, it was employed for the detection of ultrasound waves and found to have an acoustic pressure detection threshold as low as 48 Pa. A commensurability was observed between the composite width and ultrasound wavelength which was shown to be consistent with the formation of standing waves, described by Bragg’s law. Secondly, a differential pressure array of 64 composite pixels was fabricated and demonstrated to image pressures under 3.8 kPa at a resolution of 10 dpi. The NDR active region was incorporated into an LC circuit where it was demonstrated to sustain oscillations of up to 12.5 kHz. The composite was then strained and an intrinsic frequency was observed which had a linear dependence on the strain with a frequency shift of 84 Hz / % strain. Lastly the composite was used in a strain-tuned amplifier circuit and shown to provide a gain of up to 4.5. This thesis provided the groundwork for a completely flexible electronically active device for futuristic bio-electronic skins with resolutions and sensitivities rivalling those of human tactile sensing.

Es konnte vor kurzem gezeigt werden, daß die Reduktion von Wasserstoffperoxid (H2O2) an Silber in Perchlorsäure (HClO4) über zwei parallele Wege verläuft. Die normale Reduktion wird bei einer Überspannung von -1,5 V beobachtet, während die zweite Reduktionsreaktion bei einer deutlich geringeren Überspannung bei -1,0 V stattfindet. Im zweiten Reaktionsweg wird OHad als instabile Zwischenspezies gebildet und wirkt katalytisch auf die H2O2-Reduktion. Daher wird angenommen, daß die zweite Reaktion eine autokatalytische Reduktion ist. Diese autokatalytische Reaktion wird nach einer ge-wissen Zeit deaktiviert, die von der Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Elektrode abhängig ist. Sie kann wiedererlangt werden, wenn die Elektrode negativ polarisiert wird. In dieser Arbeit wurden Ex-situ-XPS-Messungen an herausgezogenen Ag(111)-Elektroden durch-geführt. Die Analyse führt zu dem Ergebnis, daß die Deaktivierung durch geringe Chlorid-Verunreinigungen verursacht wird. Elektrochemische Impedanzspektren werden zusammen mit numerischen Simulationen der Faradayschen Impedanz des autokata-lytischen Bereiches gezeigt. Diese basieren auf Annahmen von kinetischen Geschwin-digkeitsgesetzen, die früher postuliert wurden. Die experimentellen Daten stimmen sehr gut mit den Ergebnissen der theoretischen Rechnungen überein. Dies unterstützt den angenommen autokatalytischen Mechanismus. / Recently, it was shown that the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reduction on silver in perchloric acid (HClO4) proceeds in two parallel paths. The normal reduction is observed at an overpotential of -1.5 V, whereas a second reduction reaction occurs at a significantly lower overpotential at -1.0 V. The second reaction involves the unstable intermediate OHad, which also acts as a catalyst. Hence, the second reaction has been proposed to be an autocatalytic one. This autocatalytic reaction is deactivated after a certain time that depends on the rotation speed of the electrode. It can be recovered if the electrode is negatively polarized. In this thesis work, ex-situ XPS measurements on emersed Ag(111) electrodes were conducted. The analysis leads to the conclusion that the deactivation is caused by a small amount of chloride contamination. Electrochemical impedance spectra are presented together with numerical simulations for the faradaic impedance in the autocatalytic region based on previously suggested kinetic rate laws. The experimental data fit well with the results of the theoretical calculations, which strongly supports the autocatalytic mechanism.