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Design Strategy for Porous Composites Aimed at Pressure Sensor Application
Author(s) -
Sang Zhen,
Ke Kai,
ManasZloczower Ica
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201903487
Subject(s) - materials science , thermoplastic polyurethane , gauge factor , fabrication , pressure sensor , composite material , piezoresistive effect , porosity , molding (decorative) , electrical conductor , composite number , compression molding , nanotechnology , mechanical engineering , elastomer , medicine , mold , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering
Flexible and highly sensitive pressure sensors have versatile biomedical engineering applications for disease diagnosis and healthcare. The fabrication of such sensors based on porous structure composites usually requires complex, costly, and nonenvironmentally friendly procedures. As such, it is highly desired to develop facile, economical, and environment‐friendly fabrication strategies for highly sensitive lightweight pressure sensors. Herein, a novel design strategy is reported to fabricate porous composite pressure sensors via a simple heat molding of conductive fillers and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) powders together with commercially available popcorn salts followed by water‐assisted salt removal. The obtained TPU/carbon nanostructure (CNS) foam sensors have a linear resistance response up to 60% compressive strain with a gauge factor ( G F ) of 1.5 and show reversible and reproducible piezoresistive properties due to the robust electrically conductive pathways formed on the foam struts. Such foam sensors can be potentially utilized for guiding squatting exercises and respiration rate monitoring in daily physical training.