2D end-to-end carbon nanotube conductive networks in polymer nanocomposites: a conceptual design to dramatically enhance the sensitivities of strain sensors

Abstract

New generation wearable devices require mechanically compliant strain sensors with a high sensitivity in a full detecting range. Herein, novel 2D end-to-end contact conductive networks of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were designed and realized in an ethylene-α-octene block copolymer (OBC) matrix. The prepared strain sensor showed a high gauge factor (GF) of 248 even at a small strain (5%) and a linear resistance response throughout the whole strain range. The sensors also exhibited very good stretchability up to 300% and high cycling durability. This novel design solved the intrinsic problem of sensors based on carbon nanotube bundles, i.e., a long sliding phase before the disconnection of CNTs in a cost-effective and scalable way. This study rationalizes the 2D end-to-end contact concept to improve the sensitivity of the existing sensors and has great potential to be used in a wide variety of polymer based sensors.

Stretchable elastomer composites with segregated filler networks: effect of carbon nanofiller dimensionality

“…As the human skin is compliant to any curved structure, lightweight conductive elastomer composites (CECs) with excellent exibility and stretchability are very good alternatives to conventional metal-based conductive materials for wearable electronics. Currently, CECs have been widely used in stretchable conductors, [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] wearable strain sensors, [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] and exible pressure sensors. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] As elastomers are intrinsically insulating, it is essential to incorporate conductive materials into elastomers for the fabrication of CECs.…”

“…There are three main reported strategies: (1) inltrating elastomers with conductive ller networks, 9,10,28,29 (2) synthesizing metal llers within elastomers 3,28,[30][31][32] and (3) implanting conductive llers into elastomers. 12,21,22,26,27,[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] The rst strategy generally requires particular fabrication techniques, such as surface treatment, to assist the combination of elastomers with conductive llers. Besides, conductive ller networks built on the surface or in the subsurface of the elastomers may be damaged under long-term high-level strain service duration due to the weak bonding between ller networks and elastomers.…”

Electromechanical Properties of PVDF-Based Polymers Reinforced with Nanocarbonaceous Fillers for Pressure Sensing Applications

“…The percentage of fillers used for optimizing functional response also vary widely [16], depending on the matrix, filler, processing method or even application. However, the larger piezoresistive sensibility in polymer composites is observed near the percolation threshold [17].…”

Electrical Monitoring as a Novel Route to Understanding the Aging Mechanisms of Carbon Nanotube-Doped Adhesive Film Joints

“…Their exceptional properties [5][6][7] and the enhancement of the electrical conductivity that they induce when added to an insulator resin [8][9][10][11] makes them very useful for multifunctional applications [12,13]. In fact, their use in structural health monitoring (SHM) applications is now of interest because of their piezoresistive and tunneling properties that lead to high sensitivities [14][15][16][17].…”