Stretchable and Flexible High-Strain Sensors Made Using Carbon Nanotubes and Graphite Films on Natural Rubber

Sensors

Sreenivasulu Tadakaluru¹  Wiradej Thongsuwan¹ 

[1] Materials Science Research Center, Department of Physics and Materials Science, Faculty of Science, Chiangmai University, Chiangmai 50200, Thailand;

关键词: piezoresistive sensor;    soft wearable sensors;    electro-mechanical properties;    film composite;    stretchable device;    carbon nanotubes;    health monitoring;   

DOI  :  10.3390/s140100868

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Conventional metallic strain sensors are flexible, but they can sustain maximum strains of only ∼5%, so there is a need for sensors that can bear high strains for multifunctional applications. In this study, we report stretchable and flexible high-strain sensors that consist of entangled and randomly distributed multiwall carbon nanotubes or graphite flakes on a natural rubber substrate. Carbon nanotubes/graphite flakes were sandwiched in natural rubber to produce these high-strain sensors. Using field emission scanning electron microscopy, the morphology of the films for both the carbon nanotube and graphite sensors were assessed under different strain conditions (0% and 400% strain). As the strain was increased, the films fractured, resulting in an increase in the electrical resistance of the sensor; this change was reversible. Strains of up to 246% (graphite sensor) and 620% (carbon nanotube sensor) were measured; these values are respectively ∼50 and ∼120 times greater than those of conventional metallic strain sensors.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.