Stretchable Strain Sensor with Controllable Negative Resistance Sensitivity Coefficient Based on Patterned Carbon Nanotubes/Silicone Rubber Composites

In this paper, stretchable strain sensors with a controllable negative resistance sensitivity coefficient are firstly proposed. In order to realize the sensor with a negative resistance sensitivity coefficient, a stretchable stress sensor with sandwich structure is designed in this paper. Carbon nanotubes are added between two layers of silica gel. When the sensor is stretched, carbon nanotubes will be squeezed at the same time, so the sensor will show a resistance sensitivity coefficient that the resistance becomes smaller after stretching. First, nanomaterials are coated on soft elastomer, then a layer of silica gel is wrapped on the outside of the nanomaterials. In this way, similar to sandwich biscuits, a stretchable strain sensor with controllable negative resistance sensitivity coefficient has been obtained. Because the carbon nanotubes are wrapped between two layers of silica gel, when the silica gel is stretched, the carbon nanotubes will be squeezed longitudinally, which increases their density and resistance. Thus, a stretchable strain sensor with negative resistance sensitivity coefficient can be realized, and the resistivity can be controlled and adjusted from 12.7 omega center dot m to 403.2 omega center dot m. The sensor can be used for various tensile testing such as human motion monitoring, which can effectively expand the application range of conventional tensile strain sensor.

Automated summary

A stretchable strain sensor with controllable negative resistance sensitivity coefficient is proposed in this paper. By adjusting the density and resistance of carbon nanotubes between layers of silica gel, the sensor shows a resistance sensitivity coefficient where the resistance decreases after stretching.