Abstract
This work presents a comparison between three piezoresistive composite materials based on nanostructured conductive fillers in a polydimethylsiloxane insulating elastomeric matrix for sensing applications. Without any mechanical deformation upon an applied bias, the prepared composites present an insulating electric behavior, while, when subjected to mechanical load, the electric resistance is reduced exponentially. Three different metal fillers were tested: commercial nickel and copper spiky-particles and synthesized highly-pointed gold nanostars. These particles were chosen because of their high electrical conductivity and especially for the presence of nanosized sharp tips on their surface. These features generate an enhancement of the local electric field increasing the tunneling probability between the particles. Different figures of merit concerning the morphology of the fillers were evaluated and correlated with the corresponding functional response of the composite.
Highlights
In the last decades, piezoresistive composite materials have found extensive potential application in the fields of microsensors [1,2], electromechanical devices, circuit breakers [3], touchable sensitive screens, and tactile sensors for robotics [4], providing cheaper, faster, and more accurate alternatives than the commercially available devices
We report on the use of three different metal conductive spiky particles into silicone-based polymeric matrix for piezoresistive composites based on tunneling conduction mechanism
The nickel powder used in this work was supplied by Vale Inco Ltd., copper was obtained from Pometon (LT10, Maerne, Italy) and the bicomponent polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was purchased by Dow Corning Corporation (SYLGARD 184, Midland, MI, USA)
Summary
Piezoresistive composite materials have found extensive potential application in the fields of microsensors [1,2], electromechanical devices, circuit breakers [3], touchable sensitive screens, and tactile sensors for robotics [4], providing cheaper, faster, and more accurate alternatives than the commercially available devices The properties of these materials could be tuned by varying the nature and the morphology of the particles, used as functional filler and the type of matrix [5]. We report on the use of three different metal conductive spiky particles into silicone-based polymeric matrix for piezoresistive composites based on tunneling conduction mechanism These composites were prepared and studied as functional materials for tactile sensors application because of their large sensitivity [13]. It could be possible to select the best filler and to tune the functional properties of the composites in order to reach the required sensor sensitivity
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