Hierarchical Structure Fabrication of IPMC Strain Sensor With High Sensitivity

In this paper, a biological template method is introduced and investigated to fabricate ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) strain sensor with bionic hierarchical structures. We utilized the multi-level structure of reed leaf surface, which can improve contact area between substrate electrode layers. Hierarchical structures were observed on IPMC samples, including pyramid strips width in range 60–80 μm as well synaptic scatters diameter around 10 μm. addition, five kinds sensors different interface obtained by combining traditional microneedle roller roughening chemical plating processes. It was found that reed-leaf each side presented best performance, along high linearity, sensitivity 62.5 mV/1% large generated voltage peak under given mechanical stimuli, 3.7 times sample fabricated without roughening.