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Ultrasensitive strain gauges enabled by graphene-stabilized silicone emulsions

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posted on 2023-06-07, 06:57 authored by Marcus O'Mara, Sean OgilvieSean Ogilvie, Matthew LargeMatthew Large, Jonathan P Salvage, Aline Amorim GrafAline Amorim Graf, Anne C Sehnal, Peter LynchPeter Lynch, Izabela Jurewicz, Alice KingAlice King, Alan DaltonAlan Dalton
Here, an approach is presented to incorporate graphene nanosheets into a silicone rubber matrix via solid stabilization of oil-in-water emulsions. These emulsions can be cured into discrete, graphene-coated silicone balls or continuous, elastomeric films by controlling the degree of coalescence. The electromechanical properties of the resulting composites as a function of interdiffusion time and graphene loading level are characterized. With conductivities approaching 1 S m-1, elongation to break up to 160%, and a gauge factor of ˜20 in the low-strain linear regime, small strains such as pulse can be accurately measured. At higher strains, the electromechanical response exhibits a robust exponential dependence, allowing accurate readout for higher strain movements such as chest motion and joint bending. The exponential gauge factor is found to be ˜20, independent of loading level and valid up to 80% strain; this consistent performance is due to the emulsion-templated microstructure of the composites. The robust behavior may facilitate high-strain sensing in the nonlinear regime using nanocomposites, where relative resistance change values in excess of 107 enable highly accurate bodily motion monitoring.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Advanced Functional Materials

ISSN

1616-301X

Publisher

Wiley

Issue

32

Volume

30

Page range

1-10

Article number

a2002433

Department affiliated with

  • Physics and Astronomy Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2020-05-07

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2020-06-18

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2020-06-18

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