Highly stretchable strain sensor based on SWCNTs/CB synergistic conductive network for wearable human-activity monitoring and recognition

• Published in: Smart materials and structures Vol. 26; no. 9; pp. 95017 - 95025
• Main Authors: Guo, Xiaohui, Huang, Ying, Zhao, Yunong, Mao, Leidong, Gao, Le, Pan, Weidong, Zhang, Yugang, Liu, Ping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 01.09.2017
• Subjects: carbon black; human-activity monitoring; single-walled carbon nanotube; stretchable strain sensor; synergistic conductive network; wearable electronics
• ISSN: 0964-1726; 1361-665X
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-665X/aa79c3

Flexible, stretchable, and wearable strain sensors have attracted significant attention for their potential applications in human movement detection and recognition. Here, we report a highly stretchable and flexible strain sensor based on a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNTs)/carbon black (CB) synergistic conductive network. The fabrication, synergistic conductive mechanism, and characterization of the sandwich-structured strain sensor were investigated. The experimental results show that the device exhibits high stretchability (120%), excellent flexibility, fast response (∼60 ms), temperature independence, and superior stability and reproducibility during ∼1100 stretching/releasing cycles. Furthermore, human activities such as the bending of a finger or elbow and gestures were monitored and recognized based on the strain sensor, indicating that the stretchable strain sensor based on the SWCNTs/CB synergistic conductive network could have promising applications in flexible and wearable devices for human motion monitoring.