Soft and stretchable strain sensors
have been attracting significant
attention. However, the trade-off between the sensitivity (gauge factor)
and the sensing range has been a major challenge. In this work, we
report a soft stretchable resistive strain sensor with an unusual
combination of high sensitivity, large sensing range, and high robustness.
The sensor is made of a silver nanowire network embedded below the
surface of an elastomeric matrix (e.g., poly(dimethylsiloxane)). Periodic
mechanical cuts are applied to the top surface of the sensor, changing
the current flow from uniformly across the sensor to along the conducting
path defined by the open cracks. Both experiment and finite element
analysis are conducted to study the effect of the slit depth, slit
length, and pitch between the slits. The stretchable strain sensor
can be integrated into wearable systems for monitoring physiological
functions and body motions associated with different levels of strain,
such as blood pressure and lower back health. Finally, a soft three-dimensional
(3D) touch sensor that tracks both normal and shear stresses is developed
for human–machine interfaces and tactile sensing for robotics.
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