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High sensitive electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane/carbon nanotubes strain sensor fitting by a novel optimization empirical model

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Abstract

A variety of high-performance strain sensors for monitoring changes in physical quantities have attracted considerable interest from academia and industry. In this work, a high sensitive flexible strain sensor is fabricated through electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fibrous film with dip-coating ultrasonication treated carbon nanotubes (CNTs). TPU/CNTs strain sensor exhibits an excellent comprehensive performance of high sensitivity (maximum gauge factor of 1571), outstanding tensile strength and toughness (stress > 24 MPa, strain > 400%), brilliant durability (10,000 cycles at 10% strain) and a widely workable stretching range (0–400%). Based on the properties of high sensitivity, wearable and wide workable, TPU/CNTs strain sensor has been prepared as a simple application for intelligent terminals, e-skins and body activity monitoring. More importantly, this work introduces a novel optimization empirical equation to describe and predict the conductive response on the stretching of the sensor. Compared with the general optimization model, the novel optimization empirical model presents a better fitting degree and more similar to the benchmark mathematic model from tunnelling theory. Furthermore, this model provides a good description of the changes in the conductive pathways during the operation of different sensors as well.

Graphical Abstract

Fabrication of high-performance electrospun TPU/CNTs strain sensor and fitting by a novel optimization empirical equation to predict the conductive response.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support from all staff members in the Institute of Polymer Materials and Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg. Xin Wang acknowledges Tiecheng Wang and Qingsen Gao for the help of drawing chart. Xin Wang would like to acknowledge Carol Jiale for the inspiration, care and help in life. The authors appreciate the thoughtful input from both reviewers, which have improved the quality of this paper. The paper reflects the views and position of the authors, and not necessarily those of the funding entities.

Funding

Xin Wang gratefully acknowledges the China Scholarship Council for funding a scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Polymer Materials, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany

    Xin Wang, Muchao Qu, Kuangqi Wu, Dirk W. Schubert & Xianhu Liu

  2. State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis, Optimization and CAE Software for Industrial Equipment, National Engineering Research Center for Advanced Polymer Processing Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China

    Xin Wang & Xianhu Liu

  3. Bavarian Polymer Institute, 90762, Fürth, Germany

    Dirk W. Schubert

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  1. Xin Wang
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  2. Muchao Qu
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  4. Dirk W. Schubert
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  5. Xianhu Liu
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Contributions

X. Wang and X. Liu designed this study and draft—writing. X. Wang, M. Qu and K. Wu performed the experiments and analysis. X. Wang, D. Schubert and X. Liu devoted to the writing—edit. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Dirk W. Schubert or Xianhu Liu.

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Wang, X., Qu, M., Wu, K. et al. High sensitive electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane/carbon nanotubes strain sensor fitting by a novel optimization empirical model. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 6, 63 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-023-00648-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-023-00648-x

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