Composite number

Engineering

Elastomer

Materials science

Embedded system

Nanotechnology

Wearable computer

Composite material

Nanofiber

Chemical Engineering Journal

Conductive polymer composite based strain sensors have promising applications in the fields of artificial skin, wearable health-care device, etc. However, fabrication of strain sensors with good stretchability, anti-corrosion, excellent durability and reliability remains challenging. In this work, a superhydrophobic strain sensor based on conductive thermoplastic polyurethane/carbon nanotubes/polydimethylsiloxane (TPU/CNTs/PDMS) was prepared by ultrasonication induced CNTs decoration onto the electrospun TPU nanofiber surface, followed by the PDMS modification. Uniformly dispersed CNTs on the nanofiber surface with a hierarchical structure construct the conductive network. The PDMS layer with a low surface energy endows the nanofiber composite with superhydrophobicity thus anti-corrosion property. The introduction of CNTs/PDMS improves both the Young's modulus, tensile strength and the elongation at break. The superhydrophobicity and conductivity can be maintained after the cyclic stretching-releasing test, displaying excellent durability. When used as a wearable strain sensor, the nanofiber composite is capable of detecting body motion and could work even under harsh conditions (moisture, acid and alkaline environment), showing promising application in wearable electronics.

Highly stretchable, anti-corrosive and wearable strain sensors based on the PDMS/CNTs decorated elastomer nanofiber composite