Images of the new stretchable strain sensor with parallel cuts of uniform depth. Image: Shuang Wu, NC State University.Researchers at North Carolina (NC) State University have developed a stretchable strain sensor with an unprecedented combination of sensitivity and range, allowing it to detect even minor changes in strain with a greater range of motion than previous technologies. The researchers demonstrated the sensor’s utility by creating new health monitoring and human-machine interface devices.
Strain is a measure of how much a material can deform from its original length. For example, if you stretched a rubber band to twice its original length, its strain would be 100%.
“And measuring strain is useful in many applications, such as devices that measure blood pressure and technologies that track physical movement,” explains Yong Zhu, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NC State and corresponding author of a paper on this work in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
“But to date there’s been a trade-off. Strain sensors that are sensitive – capable of detecting small deformations – cannot be stretched very far. On the other hand, sensors that can be stretched to greater lengths are typically not very sensitive. The new sensor we’ve developed is both sensitive and capable of withstanding significant deformation. An additional feature is that the sensor is highly robust even when over-strained, meaning it is unlikely to break when the applied strain accidently exceeds the sensing range.”
The new sensor consists of a silver nanowire network embedded in an elastic polymer. The polymer features a series of parallel cuts of a uniform depth, alternating from either side of the material – one cut from the left, followed by one from the right, followed by one from the left, and so on.
“This feature – the patterned cuts – is what enables a greater range of deformation without sacrificing sensitivity,” says Shuang Wu, a recent PhD graduate at NC State and first author of the paper.
The sensor measures strain by recording changes in electrical resistance: as the material stretches, its resistance increases. The cuts in the surface of the sensor are perpendicular to the direction that it is stretched. This does two things. First, the cuts allow the sensor to deform significantly. Because the cuts in the surface pull open, creating a zigzag pattern, the material can withstand substantial deformation without reaching the breaking point. Second, when the cuts pull open, this forces the electrical signal to travel further, up and down the zigzag, enhancing the increase in resistance.
“To demonstrate the sensitivity of the new sensors, we used them to create new wearable blood pressure devices,” Zhu says. “And to demonstrate how far the sensors can be deformed, we created a wearable device for monitoring motion in a person’s back, which has utility for physical therapy.”
“We have also demonstrated a human-machine interface,” Wu says. “Specifically, we used the sensor to create a three-dimensional touch controller that can be used to control a video game.”
“The sensor can be easily incorporated into existing wearable materials such as fabrics and athletic tapes, convenient for practical applications,” Zhu adds. “And all of this is just scratching the surface. We think there will be a range of additional applications as we continue working with this technology.”
This story is adapted from material from North Carolina State University, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier. Link to original source.