Fabricating Flexible Strain Sensor with Direct Writing Graphene/Carbon Nanotube Aerogel

Abstract

Flexible strain sensor has wide applications in wearable devices and human–computer interaction. These sensors exhibit a flexible performance, which makes the structure of the device adapt to a wide range of application scenarios. This work proposes a low-cost and accurate direct writing method to fabricate a three-dimensional graphene/carbon nanotube strain sensor by using prepared printing ink with good dispersion, extruding ordered lamellae, and controlling porous aerogel structure. The morphology of the prepared three-dimensional porous aerogel was controlled with the ice template method. The strain sensor could be obtained by encapsulating the PDMS precursor, which shows high stretchability with a sensitivity of 18.55 at a 20% tensile strain. It offers good stability after 900 times of repeated stretching under 20% strain. This study of fabricating flexible strain sensors could provide a facile and effective way to apply intelligent packaging and wearable electronic devices.