Title
Chemically and mechanically robust SWCNT based strain sensor with monotonous piezoresistive response for infrastructure monitoring
Author
Preety Ahuja, Sanjeev Kumar Ujjain, Koki Urita, Ayumi Furuse, Isamu Moriguchi, Katsumi Kaneko
Year
2020
Journal
Chemical Engineering Journal
Abstract
The application of stretchable strain sensors in civil and structural engineering involving infrastructural monitoring
has become the hot subject of research. However, their imperative performance in infrastructure monitoring
is often hindered by environmental conditions particularly, underwater and corrosive environments.
Herein, we report the facile fabrication of chemically and mechanically stable strain sensor based on oxidized
SWCNT (ox-SWCNT) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The strong molecular level interaction of ox-SWCNT
and PDMS provides sensitive piezoresistivity. Applied strain to the fabricated sensor results in highly synchronized
resistive response in large strain range of 100%, demonstrating one to one correspondence (monotonous
response) in resistance-strain behavior. Most importantly, the protruding structure of ox-SWCNT covered with
low surface energy PDMS provides in-situ resiliency, not only towards water but also to acidic and alkaline
solution. Its high durability under abrasive situations illustrates the potential applicability in real time infrastructure
monitoring under harsh conditions.
Instrument
NRS-4100
Keywords
Strain sensor Oxidized single walled carbon nanotube Infrastructure monitoring Water resiliency Robustness