TiO2 with arbitrarily tunable facets is directly grown onto the conductive substrate. H+ promotes the growth of the high energy {001} facet rather than F−.

Conventional metallic strain sensors are flexible, but they can sustain maximum strains of only ∼5%, so there is a need for sensors that can bear high strains for multifunctional applications. In this study, we report stretchable and flexible high-strain sensors that consist of entangled and randomly distributed multiwall carbon nanotubes or graphite flakes on a natural rubber substrate. Carbon nanotubes/graphite flakes were sandwiched in natural rubber to produce these high-strain sensors. Using field emission scanning electron microscopy, the morphology of the films for both the carbon nanotube and graphite sensors were assessed under different strain conditions (0% and 400% strain). As the strain was increased, the films fractured, resulting in an increase in the electrical resistance of the sensor; this change was reversible. Strains of up to 246% (graphite sensor) and 620% (carbon nanotube sensor) were measured; these values are respectively ∼50 and ∼120 times greater than those of conventional metallic strain sensors.

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We have demonstrated a simple method for depositing ZnO nanodots on quartz substrates by sparking off different tip shapes at voltages of 2, 4 and 6 kV in air at atmospheric pressure. A comparison was made among the three tip shapes: the sharp tip, the conical tip and the dull tip. The surface morphology was then observed by atomic force microscopy. The mean height of the randomly distributed dots of approximately 8 nm was successfully deposited from the sharp tip at 6 kV. Characterizations by UV-vis spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy have confirmed the presence of ZnO and the quality improvement by annealing treatments. Moreover, a nucleation mechanism of the nanodot formation is discussed.

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