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A Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Guide to Using Carbon Nanotubes for Stretchable Electronics and Sensors

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

The primary purpose of this chapter is to assist and encourage researchers who are new to the field of carbon nanotubes and stretchable sensors in beginning to explore and prototype nanotube-enabled devices and materials. Given this, our primary focus will be on how to use “off-the-shelf” components to prepare carbon nanotubes for use in a wide variety of applications, although our specific emphases will be on 2D patterning of nanotubes and stretchable electronics. Specifically, stretchable strain gauges were selected as the case study because they are an excellent showcase for the versatility and ease of manufacturing of nanotube-based devices, while the techniques to produce them are the same techniques that would be used for many other nanotube-based devices. We will begin with an overview of the challenges of sensing large strains and the limitations of status quo devices. Armed with that knowledge, we will then discuss why carbon nanotubes are particularly well suited to address the problem and how to acquire, prepare, and post-process them into a sensor. Finally, we will present an inexpensive, simple strain gauge design based on piezocapacitive strain transduction capable of straining to a minimum of 20× farther than the best traditional metal foil gauge.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationLecture Notes in Nanoscale Science and Technology
PublisherSpringer Publishing Company
Pages225-244
Number of pages20
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Nanoscale Science and Technology
Volume19
ISSN (Print)2195-2159
ISSN (Electronic)2195-2167

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science
  • Biotechnology
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Biomedical Engineering

Keywords

  • Gauge Factor
  • Parallel Plate Capacitor
  • Percolation Network
  • Percolation Threshold
  • Soft Sensor

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