【[J. Mater. Chem. C]】Network Cracks-based Wearable Strain Sensors for both Subtle and Large Strain Detection of Human Motions
writer：Shuai Wang,a Peng Xiao,a Yun Liang,a Jiawei Zhang,a Youju Huang,* Si Wu, Shiao-Wei Kuo,c and Tao
keywords：Wearable Strain Sensors
source：期刊
specific source：Journal of Materials Chemistry C
Issue time：2018年
As an imitation of human skin’s
tactile sensing ability, flexible and stretchable strain sensors are highly
desirable because of their various applications in health monitoring, robotics,
human-machine interfaces. However, it is still a big challenge to fabricate
strain sensors with both high sensitivity and broad sensing range. Here we
report a simple, low cost and scalable fabrication strategy to construct high
performance strain sensors based on network cracks formed in multilayer carbon
nanotubes (CNTs) films/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composites. The microscopic
thickness of multilayer CNTs can be precisely controlled to tune the formation
of network cracks in CNTs films /PDMS composite, which is critical for
simultaneously amplifying the sensitivity signal and sensing range of strain
sensors. The optimized CNTs films /PDMS composite under appropriate stretch
force would fracture into gaps, islands, and bridges connecting separated
islands. The formed network cracks easily result in both high gauge factor
(maximum value of 87) and a wide sensing range (up to 100%) of strain sensor,
which allows to detect minimum strain of 0.007% with excellent stability (1500
cycles), making it suitable for both subtle and large strain detection
including subtle signals of artery pulses, music vibration and large scale
motions of joint bending