TY - JOUR
T1 - Facile fabrication of 3d porous sponges coated with synergistic carbon black/multiwalled carbon nanotubes for tactile sensing applications
AU - Al-Handarish, Yousef
AU - Omisore, Olatunji Mumini
AU - Duan, Wenke
AU - Zebang, Luo
AU - Akinyemi, Toluwanimi Oluwadara
AU - Du, Wenjing
AU - Li, Hui
AU - Wang, Lei
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (#U1713219); Outstanding Youth Science Fund Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (#61950410618); Shenzhen Natural Science Foundation (#JCYJ20190812173205538); and National Key Research and Development program of China (#2019YFB1311702).
Funding Information:
Acknowledgments: This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (#U1713219); Outstanding Youth Science Fund Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (#61950410618); Shenzhen Natural Science Foundation (#JCYJ20190812173205538); and National Key Research and Development program of China (#2019YFB1311702).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2020/10
Y1 - 2020/10
N2 - Recently, flexible tactile sensors based on three-dimensional (3D) porous conductive composites, endowed with high sensitivity, a wide sensing range, fast response, and the capability to detect low pressures, have aroused considerable attention. These sensors have been employed in different practical domain areas such as artificial skin, healthcare systems, and human–machine interaction. In this study, a facile, cost-efficient method is proposed for fabricating a highly sensitive piezoresistive tactile sensor based on a 3D porous dielectric layer. The proposed sensor is designed with a simple dip-coating homogeneous synergetic conductive network of carbon black (CB) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) composite on polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) sponge skeletons. The unique combination of a 3D porous structure, with hybrid conductive networks of CB/MWCNTs displayed a superior elasticity, with outstanding electrical characterization under external compression. The piezoresistive tactile sensor exhibited a high sensitivity of (15 kPa−1), with a rapid response time (100 ms), the capability of detecting both large and small compressive strains, as well as excellent mechanical deformability and stability over 1000 cycles. Benefiting from a long-term stability, fast response, and low-detection limit, the piezoresistive sensor was successfully utilized in monitoring human physiological signals, including finger heart rate, pulses, knee bending, respiration, and finger grabbing motions during the process of picking up an object. Furthermore, a comprehensive performance of the sensor was carried out, and the sensor’s design fulfilled vital evaluation metrics, such as low-cost and simplicity in the fabrication process. Thus, 3D porous-based piezoresistive tactile sensors could rapidly promote the development of high-performance flexible sensors, and make them very attractive for an enormous range of potential applications in healthcare devices, wearable electronics, and intelligent robotic systems.
AB - Recently, flexible tactile sensors based on three-dimensional (3D) porous conductive composites, endowed with high sensitivity, a wide sensing range, fast response, and the capability to detect low pressures, have aroused considerable attention. These sensors have been employed in different practical domain areas such as artificial skin, healthcare systems, and human–machine interaction. In this study, a facile, cost-efficient method is proposed for fabricating a highly sensitive piezoresistive tactile sensor based on a 3D porous dielectric layer. The proposed sensor is designed with a simple dip-coating homogeneous synergetic conductive network of carbon black (CB) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) composite on polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) sponge skeletons. The unique combination of a 3D porous structure, with hybrid conductive networks of CB/MWCNTs displayed a superior elasticity, with outstanding electrical characterization under external compression. The piezoresistive tactile sensor exhibited a high sensitivity of (15 kPa−1), with a rapid response time (100 ms), the capability of detecting both large and small compressive strains, as well as excellent mechanical deformability and stability over 1000 cycles. Benefiting from a long-term stability, fast response, and low-detection limit, the piezoresistive sensor was successfully utilized in monitoring human physiological signals, including finger heart rate, pulses, knee bending, respiration, and finger grabbing motions during the process of picking up an object. Furthermore, a comprehensive performance of the sensor was carried out, and the sensor’s design fulfilled vital evaluation metrics, such as low-cost and simplicity in the fabrication process. Thus, 3D porous-based piezoresistive tactile sensors could rapidly promote the development of high-performance flexible sensors, and make them very attractive for an enormous range of potential applications in healthcare devices, wearable electronics, and intelligent robotic systems.
KW - 3D porous structure
KW - Flexible tactile sensors
KW - Healthcare systems
KW - Human–machine interface
KW - Piezoresistive sensors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85091802388&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/nano10101941
DO - 10.3390/nano10101941
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85091802388
SN - 2079-4991
VL - 10
SP - 1
EP - 19
JO - Nanomaterials
JF - Nanomaterials
IS - 10
M1 - 1941
ER -
