Printable low-cost and flexible carbon nanotube buckypaper motion sensors

Wearable technology, which features affordable and flexible sensors integrated into fabrics and garments to detect both deliberate and subtle body movements, will reshape the way we approach self-rehabilitation, physical training, and many high-dexterity tasks by harvesting data about the wearer's activity. Metallic and semiconductor sensors are currently the most commercially viable sensors. Metallic sensors designs are low profile and flexible; however, they are limited by low sensitivity and complex manufacturing. Semi-conductor sensor designs are highly sensitive but limited by their rigidity and brittle nature. Wearable sensors that are low profile, flexible, and sensitive to micro-strains are highly desired. We have developed a printable and low profile strain sensor using multi-wall carbon nanotube thin films called buckypaper (MWCNT-BP). Our tests indicate that the buckypaper sensors are 77% more sensitive than similar sensor designs. This paper explains the low-cost printing technology and displays the sensors' performance after integration into a fabric glove. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.