An efficient pressure sensor based on environmental-friendly CNTs-graphene-PDMS film

Abstract

Given the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, there is an escalating demand for wearable sensors. An efficient graphene-based material synthesized from the mesophase pitch of waste slurry oil was integrated into a cost-effective piezoresistive pressure sensor consisting of a conductive film made of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). A simple fabrication approach has been suggested to infuse PDMS with CNTs-graphene, resulting in a pressure sensor exhibiting superior conductivity, enhanced sensitivity, and quick responsiveness to diverse pressure variations. Moreover, films containing varying percentages of graphene were compared. Scanning electron microscopy was utilized to examine the surface and structural characteristics of the CNTs-graphene-PDMS film, alongside studying the pressure sensor's sensing capabilities. Various applications were examined for both the individual sensor and the array of sensors. The findings demonstrate the successful detection of diverse human motions, Morse code recognition, and effective discernment of various pressures by the fabricated pressure sensor, indicating its potential for applications in smart devices, robotics, and wearable sensors.