High Sensitivity and Wide Strain Range Flexible Strain Sensor Based on CB/CNT/PDA/TPU Conductive Fiber Membrane
Flexible strain sensors have attracted significant attention due to their critical applications in wearable devices, biological detection, and artificial intelligence. However, achieving both a wide strain range and high sensitivity remains a major challenge in current research. This study aims to d...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Qiong Wei Zihang Sun Xudong Li Zichao Chen Yi Li |
| author_facet | Qiong Wei Zihang Sun Xudong Li Zichao Chen Yi Li |
| author_sort | Qiong Wei |
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| description | Flexible strain sensors have attracted significant attention due to their critical applications in wearable devices, biological detection, and artificial intelligence. However, achieving both a wide strain range and high sensitivity remains a major challenge in current research. This study aims to develop a novel composite material with a synergistic conductive network to construct high-performance flexible strain sensors. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofiber membranes were first prepared using electrospinning technology, and their surface was modified with polydopamine (PDA) via in-situ polymerization, which significantly enhanced the fibers’ adsorption capacity for conductive materials. Subsequently, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon black (CB) were coated onto the PDA-modified TPU fibers through ultrasonic anchoring, forming a CB/CNT/PDA/TPU composite with a synergistic conductive network. The results demonstrated that the flexible strain sensor fabricated from this composite material (with a CB-to-CNT mass ratio of 7:3) achieved ultrahigh sensitivity (gauge factor, GF, up to 1063) over a wide strain range (up to 300%), along with a low detection limit (1% strain), fast response and recovery times (137 ms), and exceptional stability and durability. Further evaluations confirmed that this sensor reliably captured biological signals from various joint movements, highlighting its broad application potential in human motion monitoring, human–machine interaction, and soft robotics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4237bfde6f7246ea90ceeb2d77c0e0d4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-4237bfde6f7246ea90ceeb2d77c0e0d42025-08-20T02:12:40ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-01153146110.3390/app15031461High Sensitivity and Wide Strain Range Flexible Strain Sensor Based on CB/CNT/PDA/TPU Conductive Fiber MembraneQiong Wei0Zihang Sun1Xudong Li2Zichao Chen3Yi Li4School of Mechanical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaFlexible strain sensors have attracted significant attention due to their critical applications in wearable devices, biological detection, and artificial intelligence. However, achieving both a wide strain range and high sensitivity remains a major challenge in current research. This study aims to develop a novel composite material with a synergistic conductive network to construct high-performance flexible strain sensors. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofiber membranes were first prepared using electrospinning technology, and their surface was modified with polydopamine (PDA) via in-situ polymerization, which significantly enhanced the fibers’ adsorption capacity for conductive materials. Subsequently, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon black (CB) were coated onto the PDA-modified TPU fibers through ultrasonic anchoring, forming a CB/CNT/PDA/TPU composite with a synergistic conductive network. The results demonstrated that the flexible strain sensor fabricated from this composite material (with a CB-to-CNT mass ratio of 7:3) achieved ultrahigh sensitivity (gauge factor, GF, up to 1063) over a wide strain range (up to 300%), along with a low detection limit (1% strain), fast response and recovery times (137 ms), and exceptional stability and durability. Further evaluations confirmed that this sensor reliably captured biological signals from various joint movements, highlighting its broad application potential in human motion monitoring, human–machine interaction, and soft robotics.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1461electrospun fiber membranessynergistic conductive networkflexible strain sensingcarbon nanotubescarbon black |
| spellingShingle | Qiong Wei Zihang Sun Xudong Li Zichao Chen Yi Li High Sensitivity and Wide Strain Range Flexible Strain Sensor Based on CB/CNT/PDA/TPU Conductive Fiber Membrane Applied Sciences electrospun fiber membranes synergistic conductive network flexible strain sensing carbon nanotubes carbon black |
| title | High Sensitivity and Wide Strain Range Flexible Strain Sensor Based on CB/CNT/PDA/TPU Conductive Fiber Membrane |
| title_full | High Sensitivity and Wide Strain Range Flexible Strain Sensor Based on CB/CNT/PDA/TPU Conductive Fiber Membrane |
| title_fullStr | High Sensitivity and Wide Strain Range Flexible Strain Sensor Based on CB/CNT/PDA/TPU Conductive Fiber Membrane |
| title_full_unstemmed | High Sensitivity and Wide Strain Range Flexible Strain Sensor Based on CB/CNT/PDA/TPU Conductive Fiber Membrane |
| title_short | High Sensitivity and Wide Strain Range Flexible Strain Sensor Based on CB/CNT/PDA/TPU Conductive Fiber Membrane |
| title_sort | high sensitivity and wide strain range flexible strain sensor based on cb cnt pda tpu conductive fiber membrane |
| topic | electrospun fiber membranes synergistic conductive network flexible strain sensing carbon nanotubes carbon black |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1461 |
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