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

TLDR

Flexible, stretchable, and wearable strain sensors have attracted significant attention for their potential applications in human movement detection and recognition. We report a highly stretchable and flexible strain sensor based on a single‑walled carbon nanotube/carbon black synergistic conductive network. We fabricated a sandwich‑structured sensor and investigated its synergistic conductive mechanism and characterization. The device exhibits 120 % stretchability, excellent flexibility, ~60 ms response, temperature independence, and stable performance over ~1100 cycles, and successfully monitored and recognized finger, elbow bending and gestures, indicating promise for wearable motion monitoring.

Abstract

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.