Low-Cost Pressure Sensors Fabricated from Novel Polymeric Nanocomposites

Abstract

Nanocomposites (NCs) can be used in several fields, for example, solar cells, biosensors, diodes, antibacterial, transistors…etc. In this paper,(poly (ethylene oxide)-polyvinylpyrrolidone-silicon oxide nanoparticles-manganese dioxide nanoparticles) NCs have been manufactured for pressure sensors with low weight, high sensitivity and lowcost. The nanocomposites were made up of various concentrations of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)-polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)-silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) and manganese dioxide nanoparticles (MnO2 NPs). The electrical conductivity and dielectric properties of the nanocomposite are studied at room temperature. The dielectric properties of the NCs are examined in the frequency range (100 Hz–5 MHz). The AC electrical conductivity, dielectric constant, and dielectric losses increase with the weight percentages of MnO2 NPs. The dielectric constants and dielectric losses decrease when a frequency increases. The A. C electrical conductivity increases with the concentration of MnO2 NPs and the frequency. The nanocomposite was tested for the pressure sensors application in the pressure range (80–160) bar. The experimental results show that the electric capacitance of nanocomposites samplesis increased, as the pressure increases. Also, the electric capacitance of NCs increases with an increase in the weight percentages of MnO2 NPs. The NCs has a high sensitivity to pressure.