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We studied the use of carbon-nanotube-(CNT)-based strain sensors as components of a textilebased, wearable sensing system for real-time motion detection. In the stretchable sensor, millimeter-long multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs) are unidirectionally aligned and sandwiched between elastomer layers. We synthesized urethane resin to make the elastomer, which exhibits low elasticity and an affinity for human skin. The aligned CNT layer was formed by stacking CNT webs drawn from a spinnable CNT forest. The stretchable sensor can be stretched up to 200% and exhibits a short sensing delay of less than 15 ms. The gauge factor exceeds 10, which indicates high sensitivity. Moreover, the device is thin and as soft as human skin. The demonstrated flexibility and conformable nature make this material ideally suited for wearable sensors, specifically for a textile-based, wearable, real-time, human body motion-sensing application.

We found the easy and efficient synthesis method of the vertically aligned ultralong multiwalled nanotubes using iron chloride powder. The 2.1-mm-long bulk nanotubes can be grown by conventional thermal chemical vapor deposition on bare quartz surface with the single gas flow of acetylene for 20 min. In addition to the high growth rate, the bulk of carbon nanotubes is easily spun into the yarn by pulling it out, and the present method also provides the coating ability with nanotubes as a new functionality of this nanomaterial.

Porous silicon carbide has been fabricated using single crystal 6H-SiC that has a wider indirect band gap than silicon crystal. Intense blue-green luminescence has been observed at room temperature. The peak wavelength is around 460 nm, below the band gap of crystalline SiC. The luminescence intensity is about 100 times stronger than that of crystalline 6H-SiC. These results not only clarify the origin of luminescence in porous Si but also point to the possibility of the use of this new material for an intense blue-green luminescent source.