Resistance-pressure sensitivity and a mechanism study of multiwall carbon nanotube networks/poly(dimethylsiloxane) composites

In this work, we explored the electrical resistance-pressure sensitivity of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) networks/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) composites and proposed a deformation-induced property transition mechanism of the nanotubes to explain this behavior. The thermoelectric coefficients of the MWNT networks/PDMS composites and MWNT mat under pressure were also measured and discussed to support our proposition. Our results revealed that the relative resistances of MWNT networks/PDMS composites with lower MWNT loadings are more sensitive on the applied pressure. Furthermore, the I-V characteristic of the MWNT networks/PDMS composites modulated with pressure on one side has shown a well rectified behavior. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.