Open AccessTransparent and flexible force sensor based on microextrusion 3D printing
Author(s) -
Yang Runhuai,
Gao Tianyun,
Li Didi,
Chen Yueming,
Jin Guoqing,
Liang Haiyi,
Niu Fuzhou
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2018.5076
Subject(s) - polydimethylsiloxane , materials science , inkwell , fabrication , wearable computer , pdms stamp , 3d printing , layer (electronics) , nanotechnology , microelectromechanical systems , computer science , composite material , embedded system , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
Transparent and flexible force sensor provides potential applications in a lot of area such as human wearable sensor, robotic sensor and underwater equipment. Here the work presents a zig‐zag patterned hydrogel‐based force sensor. Slow‐gelling alginate hydrogel, self‐designed microextrusion 3D printer and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were adapted for the sensor fabrication. A slow‐gelling hydrogel printing ink was prepared and printed onto the treated PDMS layer with a computer‐aided designed zig‐zag pattern. The line width and resistance of the printed hydrogel were precisely controlled by the self‐designed microextrusion 3D printer. To stabilise the water content, a sandwich structure was adopted and two PDMS cover layers were fabricated to seal the hydrogel sensor. Theoretical analysis was performed and it is shown that the change rate of resistance was linear related to the force, and this analysis was proved by experiment. Experiments also show that the sensor was flexible and transparent. The zig‐zag patterned hydrogel also and the PDMS layers provided stable water content and recording.