梯度结构导电弹性体复合材料及其应变传感性能

Construction and strain sensing performance of conductive elastomer composites with gradient structure

  • 摘要: 导电弹性体基柔性应变传感器普遍存在检测范围小、灵敏度低、制备工艺复杂、成本高等问题,大大限制了其应用。采用简单的重力驱动法,制备出具有梯度导电网络结构的天然橡胶(NR)/羧基化碳纳米管(c-MWCNTs)导电弹性体复合材料(CECs)基柔性应变传感器。利用c-MWCNTs的亲水特性以及其受到的重力作用来控制其在NR基体中的分布,使其在NR基体中形成梯度结构。该结构具有连续的c-MWCNTs浓度梯度,且自上而下浓度逐渐增大,所形成的导电网络由疏到密。基于此,相比于普通的溶液法制备的均质导电网络的应变传感器,所设计的传感器由于层级导电网络之间弹性模量与导电路径的差异性,表现出更优异的传感性能。传感器在0-200%和200%-240%应变下的应变系数(GF)分别为9.025和61.127,具有较宽的检测范围(0%-240%)、快速的响应/恢复时间(164 ms/1.07 s)。此外,该传感器能贴合人体皮肤的各个关节,实现各种生理信号监测,在人体健康监测、人机交互等领域具有重要应用潜力。

     

    Abstract: Conductive elastomer-based flexible strain sensors generally suffer from issues such as a narrow detection range, low sensitivity, complex fabrication processes, and high costs, which limits their application. Therefore, a simple gravity-driven method was employed to fabricate flexible strain sensors based on natural rubber (NR)/carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (c-MWCNTs) with a gradient conductive network structure. The hydrophilic properties of c-MWCNTs and the gravitational force acting on them were utilized to control the distribution of c-MWCNTs within the NR matrix, thereby forming a gradient structure within the NR matrix. This structure exhibits a continuous concentration gradient of c-MWCNTs, with concentration increasing from top to bottom, resulting in a conductive network that transitions from sparse to dense. Compared to conventional sensors prepared via blending methods with a single conductive network, the designed sensor demonstrates superior sensing performance due to the differences in elastic modulus and conductive pathways between hierarchical conductive networks. The sensors exhibit gauge factor (GF) values of 9.025 and 61.127 at strain of 0–200% and 200–240%, respectively, while offering a wide detection range (0–240%) and fast response/recovery times (164 ms/1.07 s). Furthermore, the sensor can conform to various joints of the human skin, enabling monitoring of various physiological signals, and holds significant application potential in fields such as human health monitoring and human-machine interaction.

     

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