Graphene woven fabric/polydimethylsiloxane composites as flexible strain and temperature sensors for wearable applications

  • Xu Liu
  • , Chen Tang
  • , Shuai Xiong
  • , Siyuan Xi
  • , Xiaohan Du
  • , Yuefeng Liu
  • , Ying Wu
  • , Zhenyu Wang
  • , Xi Shen
  • , Qingbin Zheng
  • , Jang Kyo Kim

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Graphene woven fabrics (GWFs) are fabricated by template-directed chemical vapor deposition on Ni templates. Freestanding GWFs with orthogonally interconnected graphene tubes are obtained after etching Ni frameworks. One layer of freestanding GWF is deposited onto a flexible and stretchable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. The change in electrical resistance (ΔR) relative to the original resistance (R0) is continuously monitored as a function of applied strain while the GWF/PDMS composite is subjected to cyclic uniaxial tension. The normalized resistance of the composite shows a ∼ 670% increase at a tensile strain of 3% and is recovered to zero upon unloading during the loading/unloading cycles, indicating that the composite can be used as flexible strain sensors within the reversible strain range. Besides strain, the composite also shows a normalized resistance change of ∼ 400% with a temperature increase from ambient to 100°C, confirming a sufficient sensitivity for use as temperature sensors. Such lightweight and highly sensitive, conductive GWF/PDMS composites are excellent candidates as flexible sensors for emerging wearable applications. A wearable musical instrument is demonstrated with integrated GWF/PDMS composites as flexible motion sensor so that one can easily produce music by hand gestures through cellphones.

Original languageBritish English
Title of host publicationECCM 2016 - Proceeding of the 17th European Conference on Composite Materials
ISBN (Electronic)9783000533877
StatePublished - 2016
Event17th European Conference on Composite Materials, ECCM 2016 - Munich, Germany
Duration: 26 Jun 201630 Jun 2016

Publication series

NameECCM 2016 - Proceeding of the 17th European Conference on Composite Materials

Conference

Conference17th European Conference on Composite Materials, ECCM 2016
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityMunich
Period26/06/1630/06/16

Keywords

  • Composites
  • Graphene woven fabric
  • Strain sensor
  • Temperature sensor
  • Wearable device

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