A Highly Stretchable, Sensitive, and Transparent Strain Sensor Based on Binary Hybrid Network Consisting of Hierarchical Multiscale Metal Nanowires. Issue 6 (26th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duan, Shasha; Wang, Zhihui; Zhang, Ling; Liu, Jin; Li, Chunzhong
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials technologies. Volume 3:Issue 6(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-04-26
• Subjects: metal nanowires -- strain sensors -- stretchable sensors -- transparent sensors; Materials science -- Periodicals; Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Materials science; Technological innovations; Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1002/admt.201800020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2365-709X

Abstract

Abstract: How to balance the relationship between stretchability, sensitivity, and optical transmittance remains an obstacle for the realization of high‐performance wearable strain sensors. Here, a highly stretchable, sensitive, and transparent strain sensor is presented by using a binary hybrid network consisting of hierarchical multiscale metal nanowires. Small‐sized silver nanaowire (AgNW) network is demonstrated to have considerable sensitivity but very limited sensing range. The introduction of the highly continuous gold nanowire backbone network can not only improve the stretchability by bridging the detached AgNW regions, but also provide excellent sensitivity in large strain range. As a result, the rationally designed hybrid network based strain sensor demonstrates a wide sensing range up to 90%, high gauge factor values from 12 at 5% to 2370 at 70%, high transmittance of 86%, and prominent cyclical stability (1000 times). The highly flexible strain sensor can be conformally attached to human body and succeeds in detecting a series of activities. Both of the outstanding sensing and optical performance endow the hybrid network based sensor great potential as invisible human‐monitoring device. Abstract : The collaboration of a small‐sized silver nanaowire network and a large‐sized gold nanowire backbone network contributes to a highly transparent strain sensor with extraordinary sensitivity in a wide strain range. When attached to a human body, the sensor performs well in recording a series of human activities such as opening the mouth and smiling, indicating its great potential as invisible wearable strain sensor.