Ultrasensitive, Stretchable Strain Sensors Based on Fragmented Carbon Nanotube Papers

Jian Zhou, Hu Yu, Xuezhu Xu, Fei Han, Gilles Lubineau

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

199 Scopus citations

Abstract

The development of strain sensors featuring both ultra high sensitivity and high stretchability is still a challenge. We demonstrate that strain sensors based on fragmented single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) paper embedded in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) can sustain their sensitivity even at very high strain levels (with a gauge factor of over 10(7) at 50% strain). This record sensitivity is ascribed to the low initial electrical resistance (5-28 Omega) of the SWCNT paper and the wide change in resistance (up to 10(6) Omega) governed by the percolated network of SWCNT in the cracked region. The sensor response remains nearly unchanged after 10 000 strain cycles at 20% proving the robustness of this technology. This fragmentation based sensing system brings opportunities to engineer highly sensitive stretchable sensors.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4835-4842
Number of pages8
JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Volume9
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 30 2017

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledgements: We thank Dr. Ercliang Li for taking videos during measurements. Research reported in this publication was supported by baseline funding provided by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

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