Three-Dimensional Printed Carbon Black/PDMS Composite Flexible Strain Sensor for Human Motion Monitoring

Abstract

High-performance flexible strain sensors with a low cost, simple structure, and large-scale fabrication methods have a high demand in soft robotics, wearable devices, and health monitoring. Here, a direct-ink-writing-based 3D printing method, which fabricates structural layers in an efficient, layered manner, was developed to fabricate a stretchable and flexible strain sensor composed of carbon black/silicone elastomer (CB/PDMS) composites as the strain-sensing elements and electrodes. As the sensing element, the CB/PDMS composite had a sensitivity of 5.696 in the linear strain detection range of 0 to 60%, with good stability and low hysteresis. The flexible strain sensor demonstrates potential in monitoring various human motions, including large deformation motions of the human body, and muscle motions with facial micro-expressions.

A hybrid multifunctional physicochemical sensor suite for continuous monitoring of crop health

“…S11 in Supporting Information). A higher hysteresis for the SA sensor could be attributed to the crack formation in the carbon black coating after 100 cycles of bending 56 , which resulted in a degradation in the sensor performance by 1.23%. Generally, 45 0 bending of the leaf surface may not occur in a live plant.…”

Strain Sensors Made of MXene, CNTs, and TPU/PSF Asymmetric Structure Films with Large Tensile Recovery and Applied in Human Health Monitoring

“…Targeting excellent comprehensive performance, researchers innovated and prepared a polymer-based flexible strain sensor with a composite structure. The polymer-based flexible sensor contains two parts: conductive filler and flexible polymer matrix; common conductive fillers include nanometal, − graphene, , MXene, − carbon black, , carbon nanotubes, ,− etc. ; common flexible polymers include thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), − poly­(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), ,, Ecoflex, etc.…”

“…The polymer-based flexible sensor contains two parts: conductive filler and flexible polymer matrix; common conductive fillers include nanometal, − graphene, , MXene, − carbon black, , carbon nanotubes, ,− etc. ; common flexible polymers include thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), − poly­(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), ,, Ecoflex, etc. Conductive fillers with zero-dimensional structures (e.g., nanometal particles) are limited by size and shape, and the sensing range and sensitivity are not prominent.…”

High Performance Strain Sensor Based on Carbon Black/Graphene/Ecoflex for Human Health Monitoring and Vibration Signal Detection

“…For instance, Lian et al employed 3D printing to fabricate a flexible strain sensor utilizing carbon black as the conductive material, resulting in a sensor that exhibited exceptional stability. 22 Zhang et al developed a flexible conductive layer by blending graphene with a flexible polymer to fabricate a sandwich-structured strain sensor, which demonstrated exceptional stability. 23 Notably, interfacial contact behavior between layered graphene sheets allows the graphene-based conductive network to maintain connectivity even under substantial strain.…”

“…), and carbon/nanogen compounds (MXene). − In addition, some natural or synthetic nanocomposites are also used to prepare electronic skin and strain sensors and exhibit excellent performance. , Carbon black and graphene are frequently selected as materials for constructing conductive networks in flexible strain sensors due to their advantageous properties, including excellent electrical conductivity, a large surface area, good cyclic stability, and cost-effectiveness. For instance, Lian et al employed 3D printing to fabricate a flexible strain sensor utilizing carbon black as the conductive material, resulting in a sensor that exhibited exceptional stability . Zhang et al developed a flexible conductive layer by blending graphene with a flexible polymer to fabricate a sandwich-structured strain sensor, which demonstrated exceptional stability .…”