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Design and Characterization of Flexible Strain Sensors Using Pressure-Sensitive Material with Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes and Polydimethylsiloxane

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Abstract

The piezoresistive effect, a phenomenon where electrical resistance changes in response to externally applied stress, is widely used in strain sensors. In this study, we focus on the development and characterization of flexible strain sensors using pressure-sensitive material composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and polydimethylsiloxane. The sensors are fabricated through an additive manufacturing process, allowing for versatile designs conforming to curved surfaces and enabling the measurement of large deformations. We investigate the response characteristics of these sensors under tensile deformation and analyze the influence of the number and width of wave peaks in the pressure-sensitive material on their electrical resistance changes. The results demonstrate that an increased number of wave peaks within the same area and larger tensile deformations lead to significant variations in electrical resistance, thus enhancing the sensor's sensitivity. Additionally, the recovery rate of initial electrical resistance upon deformation removal shows different trends depending on the number and width of wave peaks. These findings provide valuable insights into the design and performance of flexible strain sensors, paving the way for the further optimization and application of pressure-sensitive materials in diverse fields such as wearable devices, robotics, and healthcare devices.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (No. 2021R1A4A1033141) and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant funded by the Korea Government (MSIT) (No. 2022R1A2C1091587).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea

    Sanho Kim & In Hwan Lee

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea

    Chae Young Park

  3. Department of Mechatronics, Korea Polytechnics Cheongju Campus, Cheongju, Korea

    Chien Kim

  4. Department of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Andong National University, Andong, Korea

    Ho-Chan Kim

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  1. Sanho Kim
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  2. Chae Young Park
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  3. Chien Kim
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Correspondence to In Hwan Lee.

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Kim, S., Park, C.Y., Kim, C. et al. Design and Characterization of Flexible Strain Sensors Using Pressure-Sensitive Material with Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes and Polydimethylsiloxane. Int. J. Precis. Eng. Manuf. 24, 2361–2369 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-023-00920-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-023-00920-6

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