Carbon Nanotube Coated Fibrous Tubes for Highly Stretchable Strain Sensors Having High Linearity
Strain sensors are currently limited by an inability to operate over large deformations or to exhibit linear responses to strain. Producing strain sensors meeting these criteria remains a particularly difficult challenge. In this work, the fabrication of a highly flexible strain sensor based on elec...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/14/2458 |
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| author | Chenchen Li Bangze Zhou Yanfen Zhou Jianwei Ma Fenglei Zhou Shaojuan Chen Stephen Jerrams Liang Jiang |
| author_facet | Chenchen Li Bangze Zhou Yanfen Zhou Jianwei Ma Fenglei Zhou Shaojuan Chen Stephen Jerrams Liang Jiang |
| author_sort | Chenchen Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Strain sensors are currently limited by an inability to operate over large deformations or to exhibit linear responses to strain. Producing strain sensors meeting these criteria remains a particularly difficult challenge. In this work, the fabrication of a highly flexible strain sensor based on electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fibrous tubes comprising wavy and oriented fibers coated with carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is described. By combining spraying and ultrasonic-assisted deposition, the number of CNTs deposited on the electrospun TPU fibrous tube could reach 12 wt%, which can potentially lead to the formation of an excellent conductive network with high conductivity of 0.01 S/cm. The as-prepared strain sensors exhibited a wide strain sensing range of 0–760% and importantly high linearity over the whole sensing range while maintaining high sensitivity with a GF of 57. Moreover, the strain sensors were capable of detecting a low strain (2%) and achieved a fast response time whilst retaining a high level of durability. The TPU/CNTs fibrous tube-based strain sensors were found capable of accurately monitoring both large and small human body motions. Additionally, the strain sensors exhibited rapid response time, (e.g., 45 ms) combined with reliable long-term stability and durability when subjected to 60 min of water washing. The strain sensors developed in this research had the ability to detect large and subtle human motions, (e.g., bending of the finger, wrist, and knee, and swallowing). Consequently, this work provides an effective method for designing and manufacturing high-performance fiber-based wearable strain sensors, which offer wide strain sensing ranges and high linearity over broad working strain ranges. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:06:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c22ef2cd76946d7a34e525d72d43606 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:06:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c22ef2cd76946d7a34e525d72d436062023-12-03T12:03:35ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912022-07-011214245810.3390/nano12142458Carbon Nanotube Coated Fibrous Tubes for Highly Stretchable Strain Sensors Having High LinearityChenchen Li0Bangze Zhou1Yanfen Zhou2Jianwei Ma3Fenglei Zhou4Shaojuan Chen5Stephen Jerrams6Liang Jiang7College of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, ChinaCollege of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, ChinaCollege of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, ChinaCollege of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, ChinaCollege of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, ChinaCollege of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, ChinaFocas Research Institute, Technological University Dublin (TUD), City Campus, Kevin St, D08 NF82 Dublin, IrelandCollege of Textiles and Clothing, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, ChinaStrain sensors are currently limited by an inability to operate over large deformations or to exhibit linear responses to strain. Producing strain sensors meeting these criteria remains a particularly difficult challenge. In this work, the fabrication of a highly flexible strain sensor based on electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fibrous tubes comprising wavy and oriented fibers coated with carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is described. By combining spraying and ultrasonic-assisted deposition, the number of CNTs deposited on the electrospun TPU fibrous tube could reach 12 wt%, which can potentially lead to the formation of an excellent conductive network with high conductivity of 0.01 S/cm. The as-prepared strain sensors exhibited a wide strain sensing range of 0–760% and importantly high linearity over the whole sensing range while maintaining high sensitivity with a GF of 57. Moreover, the strain sensors were capable of detecting a low strain (2%) and achieved a fast response time whilst retaining a high level of durability. The TPU/CNTs fibrous tube-based strain sensors were found capable of accurately monitoring both large and small human body motions. Additionally, the strain sensors exhibited rapid response time, (e.g., 45 ms) combined with reliable long-term stability and durability when subjected to 60 min of water washing. The strain sensors developed in this research had the ability to detect large and subtle human motions, (e.g., bending of the finger, wrist, and knee, and swallowing). Consequently, this work provides an effective method for designing and manufacturing high-performance fiber-based wearable strain sensors, which offer wide strain sensing ranges and high linearity over broad working strain ranges.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/14/2458fibrous tubesstrain sensorworking rangelinearity |
| spellingShingle | Chenchen Li Bangze Zhou Yanfen Zhou Jianwei Ma Fenglei Zhou Shaojuan Chen Stephen Jerrams Liang Jiang Carbon Nanotube Coated Fibrous Tubes for Highly Stretchable Strain Sensors Having High Linearity Nanomaterials fibrous tubes strain sensor working range linearity |
| title | Carbon Nanotube Coated Fibrous Tubes for Highly Stretchable Strain Sensors Having High Linearity |
| title_full | Carbon Nanotube Coated Fibrous Tubes for Highly Stretchable Strain Sensors Having High Linearity |
| title_fullStr | Carbon Nanotube Coated Fibrous Tubes for Highly Stretchable Strain Sensors Having High Linearity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Carbon Nanotube Coated Fibrous Tubes for Highly Stretchable Strain Sensors Having High Linearity |
| title_short | Carbon Nanotube Coated Fibrous Tubes for Highly Stretchable Strain Sensors Having High Linearity |
| title_sort | carbon nanotube coated fibrous tubes for highly stretchable strain sensors having high linearity |
| topic | fibrous tubes strain sensor working range linearity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/14/2458 |
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