Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has the advantages of one-step fabrication, prominent mechanical performance, as well as high conductivity; it acts as the ideal material to fabricate flexible strain sensors. In this study, a wearable flexible strain sensor consisting of three-dimensional (3D) wavy LIG and silicone rubber was reported. With a laser to scan on a polyimide film, 3D wavy LIG could be synthesized on the wavy surface of a mold. The wavy-LIG strain sensor was developed by transferring LIG to silicone rubber substrate and then packaging. For stress concentration, the ultimate strain primarily took place in the troughs of wavy LIG, resulting in higher sensitivity and less damage to LIG during stretching. As a result, the wavy-LIG strain sensor achieved high sensitivity (gauge factor was 37.8 in a range from 0% to 31.8%, better than the planar-LIG sensor), low hysteresis (1.39%) and wide working range (from 0% to 47.7%). The wavy-LIG strain sensor had a stable and rapid dynamic response; its reversibility and repeatability were demonstrated. After 5000 cycles, the signal peak varied by only 2.32%, demonstrating the long-term durability. Besides, its applications in detecting facial skin expansion, muscle movement, and joint movement, were discussed. It is considered a simple, efficient, and low-cost method to fabricate a flexible strain sensor with high sensitivity and structural robustness. Furthermore, the wavy-LIG strain senor can be developed into wearable sensing devices for virtual/augmented reality or electronic skin.
Fabrication of crimped fibers has been caught much attention recently due to remarkable improvement surface-to-volume ratio. The precise mechanism of the fiber crimp is, however, rare and preliminary. This paper finds that pulsation of fibers is the key factor for fiber crimp, and its configuration (wave formation) corresponds to its nature frequency after solidification. Crimping performance can be improved by temperature control of the uncrimped fibers. In the paper, polylactide/dimethylfomamide solution is fabricated into crimped nanofibers by the bubble electrospinning, an approximate period-amplitude relationship of the wave formation is obtained.
Bubbfil spinning is to use polymers' or melts' bubbles or membranes for fabrication of nanomaterials including smooth nanofibers and discontinuous nanofibers by using electrostatic force, blowing air or mechanical force to overcome the surface tension, it mainly includes the bubble-electrospinning, blown bubble spinning and membrane spinning. The initial ejecting velocity of the Bubbfil spinning process is as high as 100 meters per second. A history of the development of Bubbfil spinning is briefly elucidated, its main properties are emphasized, some effective modifications are discussed for different applications including single bubble electrospinning, blown bubble spinning, air-jet assisted bubble electrospinning, electrostatic-field-assisted blown bubble spinning, and vibration bubble electrospinning which is suitable for melts or high-concentration solutions. Morphology properties are also discussed for different applications.
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