Microstructure Engineering of Stretchable Resistive Strain Sensors with Discrimination Capabilities in Transverse and Longitudinal Directions. Issue 10 (10th July 2021) - Shen, Gengzhe
Abstract: Featuring simple device structure, high sensitivity, and excellent reliability, stretchable resistive sensors have developed rapidly due to the high demand for flexible and wearable electronics. Nevertheless, it remains critically challenging to evaluate external stimuli using one simple device for diverse application scenarios. Here, a microstructure is engineered for a stretchable sensor by a facile replication/transferring and a prestretching/releasing process, enabling the device to have discrimination capabilities in the transverse direction ( X ‐axis) and longitudinal direction ( Y ‐axis). Consisting of silver nanowires (Ag NWs)/transition metal carbides (MXene)/poly(3, 4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (styrene‐sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) conducting layer and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/Ecoflex elastomer, the microstructured sensor has a broad strain range of 120% along the X ‐axis and a large gauge factor (GF) of 37.44 along the Y ‐axis, and shows good stability during 1000 stretching/releasing cycles along two directions, indicating the excellent interfacial connection between the sensing layer and elastomer. As a result, taking advantages of distinct performance along two directions, the proposed stretchable sensor is demonstrated to monitor a variety of human movements and physical stimuli as a wearable and flexible device, revealing its promising potential in diverse application scenarios. Abstract : A silver nanowires (Ag NWs)/transition metal carbides (MXene)/poly(3, 4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (styrene‐sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) microstructured sensor is engineered to exhibit the characteristics of discrimination capabilities along two directions, broad strain range, large gauge factor, and good stability. The stretchable device is demonstrated to monitor a variety of human movements and physical stimuli, revealing its promising potential in diverse application scenarios.