Soft metal constructs for large strain sensor membrane

Thin gold films on silicone display large reversible change in electrical resistance upon stretching. Eutectic liquid metal conductors maintain bulk metal conductivity, even upon extensive elongation. When integrated together, the soft metals enable multidirectional, large strain sensor skin. Their...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSmart materials and structures Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 35020 - 9
Main Authors Michaud, Hadrien O, Teixidor, Joan, Lacour, Stéphanie P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published IOP Publishing 01.03.2015
Subjects
additive manufacturing
Automation
Eutectic temperature
Gold
Indium
large strain sensing
Manufacturing engineering
miniaturized strain rosette
Sensors
soft conductors
Strain
Thin films
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Summary:Thin gold films on silicone display large reversible change in electrical resistance upon stretching. Eutectic liquid metal conductors maintain bulk metal conductivity, even upon extensive elongation. When integrated together, the soft metals enable multidirectional, large strain sensor skin. Their fabrication process combines thermal evaporation of thin gold film patterns through stencil mask with microplotting of eutectic gallium indium microwires, and packaging in silicone rubber. Using three-element rectangular rosettes, we demonstrate a sensor skin that can reliably and locally quantify the plane strain vector in surfaces subject to stretch (up to 50% strain) and indentation. This hybrid technology will find applications in soft robotics, prosthetics and wearable health monitoring systems.
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ISSN:0964-1726
1361-665X
DOI:10.1088/0964-1726/24/3/035020