Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. Thermally Drawn Elastomer Nanocomposites for Soft Mechanical Sensors
 
research article

Thermally Drawn Elastomer Nanocomposites for Soft Mechanical Sensors

Leber, Andreas  
•
Laperrousaz, Stella  
•
Qu, Yunpeng  
Show more
February 28, 2023
Advanced Science

Stretchable and conductive nanocomposites are emerging as important constituents of soft mechanical sensors for health monitoring, human-machine interactions, and soft robotics. However, tuning the materials' properties and sensor structures to the targeted mode and range of mechanical stimulation is limited by current fabrication approaches, particularly in scalable polymer melt techniques. Here, thermoplastic elastomer-based nanocomposites are engineered and novel rheological requirements are proposed for their compatibility with fiber processing technologies, yielding meters-long, soft, and highly versatile stretchable fiber devices. Based on microstructural changes in the nanofiller arrangement, the resistivity of the nanocomposite is tailored in its final device architecture across an entire order of magnitude as well as its sensitivity to strain via tuning thermal drawing processing parameters alone. Moreover, the prescribed electrical properties are coupled with suitable device designs and several fiber-based sensors are proposed aimed at specific types of deformations: i) a robotic fiber with an integrated bending mechanism where changes as small as 5 degrees are monitored by piezoresistive nanocomposite elements, ii) a pressure-sensing fiber based on a geometrically controlled resistive signal that responds with a sub-newton resolution to changes in pressing forces, and iii) a strain-sensing fiber that tracks changes in capacitance up to 100% elongation.

  • Files
  • Details
  • Metrics
Type
research article
DOI
10.1002/advs.202207573
Web of Science ID

WOS:000940330500001

Author(s)
Leber, Andreas  
Laperrousaz, Stella  
Qu, Yunpeng  
Dong, Chaoqun  
Richard, Ines  
Sorin, Fabien  
Date Issued

2023-02-28

Publisher

WILEY

Published in
Advanced Science
Subjects

Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

•

Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

•

Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

•

Chemistry

•

Science & Technology - Other Topics

•

Materials Science

•

conductive polymer nanocomposites

•

functional fibers

•

pressure sensors

•

soft materials

•

soft robotics

•

strain sensors

•

carbon

•

composites

•

fibers

•

conductivity

•

morphology

•

skin

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
FIMAP  
Available on Infoscience
March 27, 2023
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/196400
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés