A highly elastic, capacitive strain gauge based on percolating nanotube networks

Daniel J. Cohen, Debkishore Mitra, Kevin Peterson, Michel M. Maharbiz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

454 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present a highly elastic strain gauge based on capacitive sensing of parallel, carbon nanotube-based percolation electrodes separated by a dielectric elastomer. The fabrication, relying on vacuum filtration of single-walled carbon nanotubes and hydrophobic patterning of silicone, is both rapid and inexpensive. We demonstrate reliable, linear performance over thousands of cycles at up to 100% strain with less than 3% variability and the highest reported gauge factor for a device of this class (0.99). We further demonstrate use of this sensor in a robotics context to transduce joint angles.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1821-1825
Number of pages5
JournalNano Letters
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 11 2012
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Bioengineering
  • General Materials Science

Keywords

  • Nanotubes
  • elastomer
  • percolation
  • sensor
  • strain

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