Preparation and application of carbon nanotubes flexible sensors

Abstract

Based on the good extensibility and conductivity, the flexible sensors (FSs) have a wide range of applications in the field of the electrochemical energy storage and variable stress sensors, which causes that the preparation of FSs also become a hot spot of research. Among the materials for preparing the FSs, the flexible carbon matrix composites (FCMCs) have become the widely used material since the good performance in the properties of electrochemistry and mechanics, which could be divided into three types: the carbon nanofibers (CNFs), the carbon nanospheres (CNSs) and the carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Compared with CNFs and CNSs, the CNTs wrapped by the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) have the advantages of the excellent extensibility and electrochemical stability. Therefore, the CNTs flexible sensor (CFS) could be well used in the field of the FSs. The purpose of this review is summarizing the preparation methods and application fields of CFS and proposing the research direction of CFS in the future. In this paper, two methods for fabricating the CFS have been designed by consulting the methods mentioned in the literature in recent years, and the advantages and disadvantages between the two methods have been explained. The application fields of CFS in recent years are enumerated, and the conclusion that the application fields of CFS are very wide is drawn. At the end of this paper, the review concludes with an overview of key remaining challenges in the application fields of the CFS.

The Recent Progress of MEMS/NEMS Resonators

“…MEMS devices realize compact and power-efficient sensing applications through the transduction of physical signals. MEMS resonator materials include Si materials compatible with MEMS process, carbon nanotubes(CNTs) [ 5 , 6 ], graphene sheets(GSs) [ 7 , 8 ], nanowires [ 9 ], SiC. Two-dimensional materials, including superconducting semiconducting [ 10 ] are often used as NEMS resonators [ 10 ].…”

Graphene and Carbon Nanotube Dual-Decorated SiOx Composite Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

“…Moreover, high capacity (over 1200 mA h g –1 ) is coupled with a large volume swell during the Li + intercalation process, thus adversely affecting the electrode structure in terms of integrity and cycle stability . Moreover, the unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer of SiO x together with considerable volume changes constantly decreases Coulombic efficiency. , Thus, several studies have proven that introducing carbon components into SiO x particles is an effective approach to form composite materials for improving conductivity and relieving the volume effect. − Graphene has high intrinsic conductivity and good mechanical property with a single-atom layer two-dimensional structure. , Carbon nanotube (CNT) is a one-dimensional structure with high electrical conductivity and structural stability. , Introducing graphene or CNTs with SiO x -forming composite anode materials can improve electrical conductivity, restrain the volume changes, and help form a steady SEI film. , However, many related composite material preparations require complicated and costly synthetic methods, thus hindering practical production and application …”

“…16,17 Carbon nanotube (CNT) is a one-dimensional structure with high electrical conductivity and structural stability. 18,19 Introducing graphene or CNTs with SiO x -forming composite anode materials can improve electrical conductivity, restrain the volume changes, and help form a steady SEI film. 20,21 However, many related composite material preparations require complicated and costly synthetic methods, thus hindering practical production and application.…”

One-Step Synthesis of SiOx@Graphene Composite Material by a Hydrothermal Method for Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

“…Researchers have performed many studies to deal with the volume effect issue of SiO x anode materials, such as constructing SiO x nanowires and SiO x nanoporous structures . Introducing a carbon layer on SiO x particles to form composite materials is also a conventional option to both relieve the volume effect and improve the conductivity. − Moreover, combining inactive conductive elements with SiO x is also beneficial for the enhancement of conductivity. , Carbon-based materials have high conductivity, which is a benefit for energy storage devices. , Graphene is a two-dimensional crystal of a single-atom layer. It has prominent advantages such as high conductivity and high mechanical strength .…”

“…20,21 Carbon-based materials have high conductivity, which is a benefit for energy storage devices. 22,23 Graphene is a two-dimensional crystal of a singleatom layer. It has prominent advantages such as high conductivity and high mechanical strength.…”