Printing of Carbon Nanotube-Based Temperature and Bending Sensors for High-Temperature-Resistant Intelligent Textiles

Abstract

Intelligent textiles capable of working in the harsh conditions of extremely high temperatures have potential applications in aerospace, firefighting, the petroleum industry, etc. Current high-temperature-resistant electronics are usually based on silicon, silicon carbide, and ceramics, which usually are rigid and have a complicated preparation process. Fabrication of intelligent textiles that can withstand high temperatures remains challenging. In this work, we printed multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-based temperature and bending sensors on quartz fabrics to fabricate high-temperature-resistant intelligent textiles. We measured in situ the high-temperature electrical conductivities of printed MWCNTs traces from 30 to 900 °C. Temperature sensors with a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of −1.18 × 10–3/°C in the temperature range of 30 to 300 °C were reported. Additionally, high-temperature-resistant bending sensors were demonstrated by printing ultrathin networks of MWCNTs on quartz fabrics. The sensors reserved good sensitivity and outstanding robustness after calcination at 600 °C. This work provides a simple, facile, and inexpensive method for fabricating high-temperature-resistant intelligent textiles.