Highly stretchable and sensitive strain sensors based on single-walled carbon nanotube-coated nylon textile

Abstract

With increasing demand for wearable electronic devices, strain sensor development with a high stretchability becomes quite critical. To develop a high performance stretchable strain sensor, we used nylon textile obtained from commercial thigh-highs as substrate for coating single-walled CNT (SWNT). Using vacuum-assisted spray-layer-bylayer technique, SWNTs were uniformly coated on the surface of textile fibers. Our SWNT/nylon textile sensor exhibited high sensitivity of 72 gauge factor at 100% strain, fast response, and excellent durability. In addition, the sensors were used for human motion detection by attaching to glove and sewing with leggings. We have a great expectation that high stretchability, sensitivity, and durability of this SWNT/nylon textile strain sensor, with its simple integration to clothing, opens up new opportunities for fabrication of high performance wearable strain sensor.