A Highly Stretchable and Sensitive Strain Sensor Based on Dopamine Modified Electrospun SEBS Fibers and MWCNTs with Carboxylation

Wearable flexible electronic strain sensor devices have developed rapidly in recent years due to their potential capacity detect human motion various situations. However, it still remains a big challenge fabricate sensors with high sensitivity over wide workable range. In order meet this challenge, new type of based on elastomer/carbon nanotube composite fiber is reported work. Elastomer fibers are initially prepared via the electrospinning styrene ethylene butene block copolymer (SEBS). The resultant SEBS then functionalized by sequentially coating dopamine (DA) and carboxyl group (-COOH) grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) under vacuum filtration ultrasonication. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) thermogravimetric analysis reveals that large amount MWCNTs firmly bonded onto evenly distributed. SEBS@PDA/MWCNTs exhibit excellent performance, including gauge factor 3717 range up 530%. Furthermore, demonstrate washing fastness superior monitoring both small strains (e.g., pulse beats vocal cord vibrations) finger, elbow, knee bending).