TY - JOUR
T1 - Enhancing the sensitivity of graphene/polyurethane nanocomposite flexible piezo-resistive pressure sensors with magnetite nano-spacers
AU - Tung, T.T.
AU - Robert, Colin
AU - Castro, M.
AU - Feller, J.F.
AU - Kim, T.Y.
AU - Suh, K.S.
PY - 2016/11/1
Y1 - 2016/11/1
N2 - A robust piezo-resistive nanocomposite flexible sensor has been developed using an innovative combination of materials, i.e., magnetite-decorated graphene/poly(ionic liquid) compatibilized poly(urethane) (TPU/Fe3O4@RGO-PIL). The transducer has been fabricated by spray layer by layer (sLbL) to structure an original three-dimensional architecture in which: reduced graphene oxide (RGO) platelets are used to build the conducting network, PIL stabilizes this percolated assembly, Fe3O4 NP act as nano-spacers between platelets to prevent their stacking and facilitate their switching, and TPU matrix brings cohesion and flexibility to the whole assembly. This strategy results in highly sensitive TPU/Fe3O4@RGO-PIL flexible nanocomposite sensors (high gauge factor in pure compression up to 6.2, exceptionally low threshold pressure 0.5 kPa, Negative Pressure Coefficient), yielding a linear response in a large range of pressures (10–200 kPa), with robust and reproducible piezo-resistive properties (weak hysteresis upon loading unloading cycling, stability of signals up to 100 000 cycles, with 2 ms dephasing). These performances are promising for a variety of applications in flexible and wearable electronics, such as tactile sensors, sensing skins and compressive strain sensors.
AB - A robust piezo-resistive nanocomposite flexible sensor has been developed using an innovative combination of materials, i.e., magnetite-decorated graphene/poly(ionic liquid) compatibilized poly(urethane) (TPU/Fe3O4@RGO-PIL). The transducer has been fabricated by spray layer by layer (sLbL) to structure an original three-dimensional architecture in which: reduced graphene oxide (RGO) platelets are used to build the conducting network, PIL stabilizes this percolated assembly, Fe3O4 NP act as nano-spacers between platelets to prevent their stacking and facilitate their switching, and TPU matrix brings cohesion and flexibility to the whole assembly. This strategy results in highly sensitive TPU/Fe3O4@RGO-PIL flexible nanocomposite sensors (high gauge factor in pure compression up to 6.2, exceptionally low threshold pressure 0.5 kPa, Negative Pressure Coefficient), yielding a linear response in a large range of pressures (10–200 kPa), with robust and reproducible piezo-resistive properties (weak hysteresis upon loading unloading cycling, stability of signals up to 100 000 cycles, with 2 ms dephasing). These performances are promising for a variety of applications in flexible and wearable electronics, such as tactile sensors, sensing skins and compressive strain sensors.
U2 - 10.1016/j.carbon.2016.07.018
DO - 10.1016/j.carbon.2016.07.018
M3 - Article
SN - 0008-6223
VL - 108
SP - 450
EP - 460
JO - Carbon
JF - Carbon
ER -