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Del Bosque A, Sánchez-Romate XF, Sánchez M, Ureña A. Toward flexible piezoresistive strain sensors based on polymer nanocomposites: a review on fundamentals, performance, and applications. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 35:292003. [PMID: 38621367 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ad3e87] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The fundamentals, performance, and applications of piezoresistive strain sensors based on polymer nanocomposites are summarized herein. The addition of conductive nanoparticles to a flexible polymer matrix has emerged as a possible alternative to conventional strain gauges, which have limitations in detecting small strain levels and adapting to different surfaces. The evaluation of the properties or performance parameters of strain sensors such as the elongation at break, sensitivity, linearity, hysteresis, transient response, stability, and durability are explained in this review. Moreover, these nanocomposites can be exposed to different environmental conditions throughout their lifetime, including different temperature, humidity or acidity/alkalinity levels, that can affect performance parameters. The development of flexible piezoresistive sensors based on nanocomposites has emerged in recent years for applications related to the biomedical field, smart robotics, and structural health monitoring. However, there are still challenges to overcome in designing high-performance flexible sensors for practical implementation. Overall, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on flexible piezoresistive strain sensors based on polymer nanocomposites, which can be a viable option to address some of the major technological challenges that the future holds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Del Bosque
- Technology, Instruction and Design in Engineering and Education Research Group (TiDEE.rg), Catholic University of Ávila, C/Canteros s/n, E-05005 Ávila, Spain
| | - Xoan F Sánchez-Romate
- Materials Science and Engineering Area, Higher School of Experimental Sciences and Technology, Rey Juan Carlos University, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Sánchez
- Materials Science and Engineering Area, Higher School of Experimental Sciences and Technology, Rey Juan Carlos University, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Tecnologías Para la Sostenibilidad, Rey Juan Carlos University, C/Tulipán s/n, E-28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Ureña
- Materials Science and Engineering Area, Higher School of Experimental Sciences and Technology, Rey Juan Carlos University, C/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles, E-28933 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Tecnologías Para la Sostenibilidad, Rey Juan Carlos University, C/Tulipán s/n, E-28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
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Li N, Huang G, Liu Y, Qu C, Li M, Xiao H. Performance Deficiency Improvement of CNT-Based Strain Sensors by Magnetic-Induced Patterning. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:5774-5786. [PMID: 36689203 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c18036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
As one of the most promising candidates, ubiquitous cycling degradation seriously affects the accuracy of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based sensors, and the reason for which is still unclear. Herein, the cycling degradation mechanism of CNT-based strain sensors has been detected by comparatively investigating the difference between the sensing behavior of CNT- and silver nanowire (Ag-NW)-based sensors, from which the microcrack-disconnection and unfolding-tunneling effects have been clarified as the sensing mechanism for Ag-NWs and CNT-based strain sensors, respectively. Furthermore, sliding and unfolding behaviors resulting from the weak interaction between CNTs have been proven to cause degradation. Correspondingly, a creative magnetically induced patterning method is proposed by utilizing magnetic nanoparticles as obstacles to prevent the CNTs from relative sliding. Benefiting from the advantageous factor, the performance deficiency of the CNT-based sensor has been overcome, and the sensitivity was significantly improved up to 5.2 times with accurate human activity detection. The competitive sensing performance of the CNTs demonstrates the reference value of the deficiency mechanism and solution scheme obtained in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100190, China
| | - Guiwen Huang
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100190, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100190, China
| | - Chengbing Qu
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100190, China
| | - Meng Li
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Hongmei Xiao
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100190, China
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Zong Y, Tan S, Ma J. Flame-Retardant PEDOT:PSS/LDHs/Leather Flexible Strain Sensor for Human Motion Detection. Macromol Rapid Commun 2022; 43:e2100873. [PMID: 35247275 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Flexible piezoresistive sensors have demonstrated great potential in human-motion-detection applications. However, it still remains a challenge to fabricate strain sensors with high sensitivity, broad sensing range and good linear response to strain. In this report, a simple and scalable fabrication strategy is developed to construct high performance strain sensors by using leather as the substrates to filtrate poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene ): : poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) modified layered double hydroxides (LDHs) suspensions. The naturally aligned collagen fibers in leather enable size selection for the 2-D conductive materials and as such dual-conductive pathways are effectively formed on the surface and in the matrix of leather. Due to the unique design of conductive networks, the prepared sensor possesses high gauge factor (maximum value of 2326.84), tunable strain range (0∼70%), fast tensile response time (160 ms), and good stability in 1000 stretching-relaxing/compression-relaxing cycles, making it suitable for various human motion detections including coughing and large-scale motions of joint bending. In addition, the incorporated LDHs is a non-toxic flame retardant, which is helpful to reduce electronic fire risk and can bring added value to the sensor. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zong
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China.,Xi'an key Laboratory of Green Chemicals and Functional Materials, Xi'an, 710021, China
| | - Sha Tan
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China.,Xi'an key Laboratory of Green Chemicals and Functional Materials, Xi'an, 710021, China
| | - Jianzhong Ma
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China.,Xi'an key Laboratory of Green Chemicals and Functional Materials, Xi'an, 710021, China
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Li Y, Chen Y, Yang Y, Gu JD, Ke K, Yin B, Yang MB. Aligned wave-like elastomer fibers with robust conductive layers via electroless deposition for stretchable electrode applications. J Mater Chem B 2021; 9:8801-8808. [PMID: 34633022 DOI: 10.1039/d1tb01441b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Flexible wearable electronics play an important role in the healthcare industry due to their unique skin affinity, portability and breathability. Despite great progress, it still remains a big challenge to facilely fabricate stretchable electrodes with low resistance, excellent stability and a wide tensile range. Here, we propose a handy and time-saving strategy for the fabrication of elastomeric films consisting of wave-like fibers with a robust conductive layer of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) immobilized using polydopamine (PDA) and silicone rubber (SR). To realize better stretchability, electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) mats with oriented nanofibers were treated via ethanol to achieve a wavy structure, which also allowed for the decoration of AgNP precursors on the TPU surface via PDA assisted electroless deposition (ELD). Therefore, the electrodes achieved a stretchability of 120% with high electrical conductivity (486 S cm-1). The films with a reduction time of 30 min showed superior electrical conductivity indicated by a resistance increase of only 100% within 50% strain. The TPU/PDA/AgNP/SR composites with a shorter reduction time of silver precursors could monitor human motions as wearable strain sensors with a wide work strain range (0-98%) and a high sensitivity (with a gauge factor (GF) of up to 81.76) for a strain of 80-98%. Therefore, they are an excellent candidate for potential application in prospective stretchable electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yi Chen
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yi Yang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jun-Di Gu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Kai Ke
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Bo Yin
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ming-Bo Yang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
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