Ultrasensitive piezoresistive strain sensors based on CNTs/Ag-NPs coated highly stretchable textile

Abstract

Highly sensitive and extremely stretchable piezoresistive strain sensors have shown intense applications in wearable electronics. In this context, a comparative study of stretchable strain sensors based on hybrid layers of silver nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes spray coated on stretchable textile is presented in this manuscript. For this persistence, three stretchable and highly flexible electrodes are fabricated: first devoid of pre-strain, second with 25 × 25% multiaxial pre-strain, and third with 50 × 50% multiaxial pre-strain. Pre-strain technique was employed to improve the stretchability and resistance stability of the electrodes. Surface morphology and elemental composition of the as-prepared electrodes were analyzed via scanning electron microscope associated with energy-dispersive detector. The fabricated electrodes were used for the assembly of strain sensors. The sensing measurements revealed high sensitivity, significant stretchability, and fast response of the fabricated strain sensors. Cost-effective and extremely facile fabrication strategy as well as direct fabrication on textile substrates can be significant advancements in fabrication of strain sensors for practical applications in human motion detection and wearable electronics.