Polypyrrole/silver coaxial nanocables structured aerogels as piezoresistive sensors

Abstract

Piezoresistive-type Pressure sensors are highly desirable for flexible devices, which convert pressure signals stimuli into resistance signals. However, the required sensitivity and stability of sensor have yet to be satisfied. Herein, we proposed the preparation of elastic aerogels with polypyrrole/silver coaxial nanocables structure via in-situ polymerization. The formed outer polypyrrole greatly improved the free-standing and mechanical performance of aerogels. The as-made products exhibited high compression resistance (maximum stress value at 80% strain is 38 kPa.). Moreover, aerogels possessed excellent mechanical robustness and electrical conductivity, which showed a stable strain-current response (1000 cycles), as well as a fast response time (230 ms) and recovery time (190 ms). Furthermore, aerogels displayed different response currents at different strain pressures.