Wearable, ultrawide-range, and bending-insensitive pressure sensor based on carbon nanotube network-coated porous elastomer sponges for human interface and healthcare devices

Amjadi, M. , Kim, S., Lee, T.-I., Jeong, Y., Kwon, D., Kim, M. S., Kim, K., Kim, T.-S., Suk Oh, Y. and Park, I. (2019) Wearable, ultrawide-range, and bending-insensitive pressure sensor based on carbon nanotube network-coated porous elastomer sponges for human interface and healthcare devices. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 11(26), pp. 23639-23648. (doi: 10.1021/acsami.9b07636)

Abstract

Flexible and wearable pressure sensors have attracted a tremendous amount of attention due to their wider applications in human interfaces and healthcare monitoring. However, achieving accurate pressure detection and stability against external stimuli (in particular, bending deformation) over a wide range of pressures from tactile to body weight levels is a great challenge. Here, we introduce an ultrawide-range, bending-insensitive, and flexible pressure sensor based on a carbon nanotube (CNT) network-coated thin porous elastomer sponge for use in human interface devices. The integration of the CNT networks into three-dimensional microporous elastomers provides high deformability and a large change in contact between the conductive CNT networks due to the presence of micropores, thereby improving the sensitivity compared with that obtained using CNT-embedded solid elastomers. As electrical pathways are continuously generated up to high compressive strain (∼80%), the pressure sensor shows an ultrawide pressure sensing range (10 Pa to 1.2 MPa) while maintaining favorable sensitivity (0.01–0.02 kPa–1) and linearity (R2 ∼ 0.98). Also, the pressure sensor exhibits excellent electromechanical stability and insensitivity to bending-induced deformations. Finally, we demonstrate that the pressure sensor can be applied in a flexible piano pad as an entertainment human interface device and a flexible foot insole as a wearable healthcare and gait monitoring device.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Amjadi Kolour, Dr Morteza
• Authors: Amjadi, M., Kim, S., Lee, T.-I., Jeong, Y., Kwon, D., Kim, M. S., Kim, K., Kim, T.-S., Suk Oh, Y., and Park, I.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
• Journal Name: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 1944-8244
• ISSN (Online): 1944-8252
• Published Online: 10 June 2019