Ultra-sensitive flexible strain sensor based on graphene nanocrystallite carbon film with wrinkle structures

Flexible strain sensor is under high demand for detecting the various movements of human, but it is still a challenge to integrate high sensitivity and high stretchability simultaneously in a single flexible strain sensor. Here, based on a multi-scale structure design idea, an ultra-sensitive and highly stretchable strain sensor is fabricated using graphene nanocrystallite carbon film with wrinkle structure. In nano-scale, the intrinsic piezoresistive property of graphene nanocrystallite and the tunneling effect between graphene nanocrystallites bring an ultrahigh gauge factor of 1071. In micro-scale, the strain induced ordered parallel wrinkles and perpendicular microcracks to the strain direction can guarantee the flexible strain sensor stable under a maximum strain of 15%. Application tests of detecting the movement of muscles around eye, throat and wrist are conducted. These application tests prove that this strain sensor has high sensitivity, wide measurement range and rapid responsibility, suggesting a great potential in monitoring human activities. (c) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.