Flexible piezoresistive strain sensor based on single Sb-doped ZnO nanobelts

Using a two-end bonded Sb-doped ZnO nanobelt on a flexible polystyrene substrate, the decrease of the resistance with increasing compressed strains in the nanobelt has been observed, which is suggested to be attributed to the piezoresistance effect. The longitudinal piezoresistance coefficient of the Sb-doped ZnO nanobelt is about 350. On the basis of this finding, we made a flexible piezoresistive strain sensor in a signature pen, which can be used to detect the corresponding compressed strains when the characters are recorded. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3522885]