With the growth of the wearable electronics industry, structural modifications of sensing materials have been widely attempted to improve the sensitivity of sensors. Herein, we demonstrate patterned graphene strain sensors, which can monitor small-scale motions by using the simple, scalable, and solution-processable method. The electrical properties of the sensors are easily tuned via repetition of the layer-by-layer assembly, leading to increment of thickness of the conducting layers. In contrast to nonpatterned sensors, the patterned sensors show enhanced sensitivity and the ability to distinguish subtle motions, such as similar phonations and 81 beats per minute of pulse rate.
Nanocomposite structures depending on the degree of surface modification of montmorillonite (MMT) were studied. To change the degree of surface modification, MMT was treated with a controlled amount of stearylamine. The structures of MMTs and nanocomposites were investigated by X-ray diffraction. To confirm the extent of surface coverage of the stearylamine as a organophilic modifier, TGA and elemental analysis experiments were performed. Different structures (intercalated or exfoliated) of a polymer/clay nanocomposite were obtained according to the interfacial characteristics between the polymer chains and the clay by controlling the degree of surface coverage.
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