3D PRINTED GRAPHENE-COATED FLEXIBLE LATTICE AS PIEZORESISTIVE PRESSURE SENSOR

Piezoresistive sponges represent a popular design for highly flexible pressure sensors and are typically fabricated using templating methods. In this work, we used stereolithography (SLA) to 3D-print an elastomeric body-centered cubic (BCC) lattice structure with a relative density of 21% and an elastic modulus of 31.5 kPa. The lattice was dip-coated with graphene nanoplatelets to realize a piezoresistive pressure sensor with excellent performance (gauge factor = 3.25, sensitivity = 0.1 kPa(-1)), high deformability (up to 60 % strain), and repeatability. The novel approach outlined in this work offers greater control over the microstructure and can be used to fabricate sensors with tunable properties.

Automated summary

In this work, a piezoresistive sponge pressure sensor was fabricated using stereolithography, with excellent performance, high deformability, and repeatability. The novel approach outlined in this work offers greater control over the microstructure and can be used to fabricate sensors with tunable properties.