Flexible strain sensors with superior flexibility and high sensitivity are critical
to artificial intelligence, and it is favorable to develop highly sensitive strain
sensors by simple and cost-effective methods. We have prepared carbon-nanotubes-enhanced
thermal polyurethane nanocomposites with good mechanical and electrical properties
for the fabrication of highly sensitive strain sensors. The nanomaterials were prepared
through a simple but effective solvent-evaporation method, and cheap polyurethane
was used as the main raw material. Only a small quantity of carbon nanotubes (mass
content 5%) was doped into a polyurethane matrix with aim of enhancing the mechanical
and electrical properties of the nanocomposite. The resulting flexible nanocomposite
films show a highly sensitive resistance response under an external strain stimulus.
Strain sensors based on these flexible composite films deliver excellent sensitivity
and conformality under mechanical conditions, and can detect finger movements precisely
at various bending angles.
Key words
nanocomposites - flexible films - strain sensors - polyurethanes - carbon nanotubes
- electrical properties
