Highly Sensitive Solvent-free Silver Nanoparticle Strain Sensors with Tunable Sensitivity Created Using an...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Developing highly sensitive and tunable strain sensors is crucial for advanced structural health monitoring and dynamic measurements.
• Existing strain sensors often face limitations in sensitivity, tunability, or require solvent-based fabrication processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize highly sensitive, solvent-free silver nanoparticle strain sensors.
• To investigate the effect of fabrication parameters, specifically printer scan velocity, on sensor performance.
• To demonstrate the sensor's capability in measuring static and dynamic strain with tunable sensitivity.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of silver nanoparticle (AgNP) conductive patterns using an aerodynamically focused nanoparticle (AFN) printer.
• Systematic variation of AFN printer scan velocity to influence pattern geometry and sensor characteristics.
• Characterization of sensor response under varying strain levels and dynamic conditions.
• Development of an analytical model to predict sensor behavior under low-strain conditions.

Main Results:

• Achieved highly sensitive, solvent-free strain sensors with tunable linear sensitivity ranging from 18.60 to 290.62 by adjusting scan velocity (2–40 μm/s).
• Demonstrated reliable measurement of tensile strain in composite beams using a prototype sensor.
• Enhanced sensor sensitivity significantly by introducing mechanical cracks, reaching a maximum sensitivity of 1056.
• Successfully captured small dynamic vibrations from a stringed instrument with the cracked sensor.

Conclusions:

• The AFN printer enables the fabrication of highly sensitive and tunable silver nanoparticle strain sensors.
• Printer scan velocity is a key parameter for controlling sensor sensitivity and pattern geometry.
• The developed sensors are capable of reliable static and dynamic strain measurements, with potential applications in structural monitoring and vibration analysis.