Abstract
Thin-film electronics played an important role in flexible healthcare sensor applications. The common status of their constituent blocks are solid film and network structures. However, the solid film could only sustain bend in a narrow range due to cracks, and the network structure decreased the sensitivity of flexion sensors due to the strong interactions between nanowires. New materials and technologies are urgently required for flexible sensing electronics, to produce the reliable data for assessment of the human body. Here, we report on a novel three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanorods array (CNA) that is characterized as vertically aligned nanorods and self-cross-linked junctions. We also demonstrate the CNA-based flexible healthcare sensors in monitoring the Parkinsonian tremors. Comparing with two-dimensional (2D) carbon nanotube networks and solid thin films, such self-cross-linked geometries are highly resistant to crack and fragmentation under strain. In the meantime, it shows high sensitivity and good stability (~10,000 times) to detect the flexions. These CNA-based flexible devices are capable of recording low-frequency vibrations (<6 Hz) and make it excellent to monitor the rest tremor of the human body, which is an initial symptom of Parkinson’s disease. The 3D self-cross-linked CNA film shows great potential in the fabrication of cost-effective and durable flexible sensors for early diagnosis of disease by monitoring the health-related rest tremors.
Highlights
Thin-film electronics are dominant configurations for current flexible sensing electronics, such as flexible pressure and strain sensors[1,2,3]
We have found that the 3D self-cross-linked carbon nanorods array (CNA) is composed of an individual carbon nanorod, which is an “intermediate” form between the carbon nanotube and carbon
The self-cross-linked CNA was synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method at high temperatures (~1000 °C) and dynamic change of pressure, using CH4 as the carbon precursor
Summary
Thin-film electronics are dominant configurations for current flexible sensing electronics, such as flexible pressure and strain sensors[1,2,3]. Recent studies have demonstrated several thin-film flexible/ stretchable electronics based on flat solid thin film and microstructured thin film with wrinkles and nanowire network[7,8,9,10]. Twodimensional (2D) networks have been developed for improving the flexibility of films, which constitute of nanowires and nanotubes by wet chemical assembly process and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth with the dry transfer. We demonstrated a novel film of 3D self-cross-linked array that contains both physical bond and chemical bond. This unique 3D configuration in film enabled the film with large structural deformation under strain and bend, and improve the flexibility and sensitivity for flexible sensing applications
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
