Highly Sensitive and Flexible Pressure Sensor Prepared by Simple Printing Used for Micro Motion Detection

Abstract

AbstractSmart wearable flexible sensors with high sensitivity and stability are still challenging nowadays when used for human motion detection, personal health monitoring, or artificial electronic skins. Here, a sensor assembled in a face‐to‐face manner based on fabric is proposed, firstly polyaniline (PANI)/nanonickel (Ni NPs)/COOH‐functionalized MWCNTs (COOH‐MWCNTs) conductive paste is prepared and printed on the cotton fabric. Then the printed fabric is assembled to be a flexible sensor which has double conductive layers. According to the analysis of the scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the synergistic performance of PANI, Ni NPs, and COOH‐MWCNTs is demonstrated. When the pressure is 0–0.1 kPa, gauge factor (GF) is 12.96 kPa−1, and when the pressure is 0.1–1 kPa, the GF is 1.33 kPa−1, indicating superior sensitivity of the sensor compared to traditional textile‐based sensors. It also displays quick response time of 0.2 s and recovery time of 0.3 s. The as‐prepared sensor can effectively monitor human micro motions like face, eye, and fingers movements, and it can also transmit electrical signals agilely by indirect contact. Moreover, a large‐area sensor spatial array is fabricated, and the test indicates the sensor can recognize spatial response.