Highly flexible and stretchable strain sensors based on conductive whisker carbon nanotube films

We fabricated a conductive whisker carbon nanotube (CNT) film by a simplified Langmuir−Blodgett method in which loose whisker CNTs (WCNTs) were densified via a capillary-induced compression assisted by a porous sponge. After this densification treatment, WCNTs formed conductive networks. The deforma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Carbon (New York) 2021-05, Vol.176, p.139-147
Main Authors: Zhang, Jinling, Wang, Min, Yang, Zhaohui, Zhang, Xiaohua
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbon
Carbon nanotubes
Conductive network
Densification
Electric resistance
High sensitivity
Langmuir-Blodgett films
Mechanical properties
Muscles
Polydimethylsiloxane
Sensitivity
Sensors
Strain sensor
Whisker carbon nanotube
Wide strain sensing range
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Summary:We fabricated a conductive whisker carbon nanotube (CNT) film by a simplified Langmuir−Blodgett method in which loose whisker CNTs (WCNTs) were densified via a capillary-induced compression assisted by a porous sponge. After this densification treatment, WCNTs formed conductive networks. The deformation of WCNT networks can cause a significant resistance change. The electric resistance of conductive WCNT network is highly sensitive to external mechanical stimuli. We developed a flexible and stretchable WCNT-based strain sensor using WCNT film sandwiched between two pieces of elastic polydimethylsiloxane films. This WCNT-based sensor exhibits an extremely high sensitivity (up to a gauge factor of 4839) over a wide strain range, fast response (60 ms), the good stability of mechanical cycling (1000 cycles), and extremely wide response window (it can detect strains as low as 0.05% and up to 420%). The WCNT-based sensing devices are able to monitor human muscle activity ranging from vital signs to high-strain human joint motions due to their high sensitivity and wide strain sensing range. [Display omitted]
ISSN:0008-6223
1873-3891
DOI:10.1016/j.carbon.2021.01.130