Flexible Strain Sensor Based on Carbon Black/Silver Nanoparticles Composite for Human Motion Detection
Open Access
- 27 September 2018
- Vol. 11 (10), 1836
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11101836
Abstract
The demand for flexible and wearable electronic devices with excellent stretchability and sensitivity is increasing, especially for human motion detection. In this work, a simple, low-cost and convenient strategy has been employed to fabricate flexible strain sensor with a composite of carbon black and silver nanoparticles as sensing materials and thermoplastic polyurethane as matrix. The strain sensors thus prepared possesses high stretchability and good sensitivity (gauge factor of 21.12 at 100% tensile strain), excellent static (almost constant resistance variation under 50% strain for 600 s) and dynamic (100 cycles) stability. Compared with bare carbon black-based strain sensor, carbon black/silver nanoparticles composite-based strain sensor shows ~18 times improvement in sensitivity at 100% strain. In addition, we discuss the sensing mechanisms using the disconnection mechanism and tunneling effect which results in high sensitivity of the strain sensor. Due to its good strain-sensing performance, the developed strain sensor is promising in detecting various degrees of human motions such as finger bending, wrist rotation and elbow flexion.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (61574099)
This publication has 51 references indexed in Scilit:
- All-polymer hair structure with embedded three-dimensional piezoresistive force sensorsSensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2012
- The use of a carbon nanotube layer on a polyurethane multifilament substrate for monitoring strains as large as 400%Carbon, 2012
- Single MWNT‐Glass Fiber as Strain Sensor and SwitchAdvanced Materials, 2011
- A stretchable carbon nanotube strain sensor for human-motion detectionNature Nanotechnology, 2011
- A pilot evaluation of an electronic textile for lower limb monitoring and interactive biofeedbackProcedia Engineering, 2011
- Influence of carbon black concentration on piezoresistivity for carbon-black-filled silicone rubber compositeCarbon, 2009
- Patterning conductive PDMS nanocomposite in an elastomer using microcontact printingJournal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 2009
- Healthy river and its indication, criteria and standardsJournal of Geographical Sciences, 2009
- Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-Modified Graphite Carbon Nanofibers as Promising Supports for PtRu Catalysts in Direct Methanol Fuel CellsJournal of the American Chemical Society, 2007
- A carbon nanotube strain sensor for structural health monitoringSmart Materials and Structures, 2006