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An Ultrasensitive, Durable and Stretchable Strain Sensor with Crack-wrinkle Structure for Human Motion Monitoring

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Abstract

Flexible strain sensor has promising features in successful application of health monitoring, electronic skins and smart robotics, etc. Here, we report an ultrasensitive strain sensor with a novel crack-wrinkle structure (CWS) based on graphite nanoplates (GNPs)/thermoplastic urethane (TPU)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) nanocomposite. The CWS is constructed by pressing and dragging GNP layer on TPU substrate, followed by encapsulating with PDMS as a protective layer. On the basis of the area statistics, the ratio of the crack and wrinkle structures accounts for 31.8% and 9.5%, respectively. When the sensor is stretched, the cracks fracture, the wrinkles could reduce the unrecoverable destruction of cracks, resulting in an excellent recoverability and stability. Based on introduction of the designed CWS in the sensor, the hysteresis effect is limited effectively. The CWS sensor possesses a satisfactory sensitivity (GF = 750 under 24% strain), an ultralow detectable limit (strain = 0.1%) and a short respond time of 90 ms. For the sensing service behaviors, the CWS sensor exhibits an ultrahigh durability (high stability > 2×104 stretching-releasing cycles). The excellent practicality of CWS sensor is demonstrated through various human motion tests, including vigorous exercises of various joint bending, and subtle motions of phonation, facial movements and wrist pulse. The present CWS sensor shows great developing potential in the field of cost-effective, portable and high-performance electronic skins.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51773183 and U1804133), National Natural Science Foundation of China-Henan Province Joint Funds (No. U1604253), Henan Province University Innovation Talents Support Program (No. 20HASTIT001), and Innovation Team of Colleges and Universities in Henan Province (No. 20IRTSTHN002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold (Zhengzhou University), Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China

    Ze-Yu Li, Wei Zhai, Yun-Fei Yu, Guo-Jie Li, Peng-Fei Zhan, Jian-Wei Xu, Guo-Qiang Zheng, Kun Dai, Chun-Tai Liu & Chang-Yu Shen

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  1. Ze-Yu Li
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  2. Wei Zhai
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  3. Yun-Fei Yu
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  8. Kun Dai
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  9. Chun-Tai Liu
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Correspondence to Kun Dai or Chun-Tai Liu.

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Li, ZY., Zhai, W., Yu, YF. et al. An Ultrasensitive, Durable and Stretchable Strain Sensor with Crack-wrinkle Structure for Human Motion Monitoring. Chin J Polym Sci 39, 316–326 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-021-2500-8

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