A Flexible Temperature Sensor Array with Polyaniline/Graphene-Polyvinyl Butyral Thin Film
Jin Pan1, Shiyu Liu2, Hongzhou Zhang3
1National Engineering Lab for TFT-LCD Materials and Technologies, Department of Electronic Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. pjpjpj@sjtu.edu.cn.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 25, 2019
Summary
This study presents a flexible, transparent temperature sensor using a polyaniline/graphene-polyvinyl butyral thin film. The novel design integrates temperature and pressure sensing in a single layer for advanced wearable electronics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Sensor Technology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Flexible temperature sensors are crucial for wearable devices but often face challenges with integration, thickness, and transparency.
- Existing multi-function sensors typically layer temperature and pressure components separately, complicating fabrication and increasing device bulk.
- Many temperature sensors utilize opaque materials, hindering integration with display applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a highly transparent, flexible temperature sensor with integrated pressure-sensing capabilities.
- To simplify the fabrication process by combining temperature and pressure detection into a single layer.
- To enhance the applicability of wearable sensors by improving transparency and reducing device thickness.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a composite thin film using polyaniline/graphene (GPANI) particles embedded in polyvinyl butyral (PVB) on indium tin oxides (ITO)-polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates.
- Optimization of the device structure to achieve co-located temperature and pressure sensing.
- Characterization of the sensor's performance, including temperature and pressure ranges, flexibility, and transparency.
Main Results:
- Demonstration of a flexible, transparent sensor with a composite GPANI-PVB thin film (2.7 μm thickness).
- Successful integration of temperature and pressure detection into a single sensor layer.
- Achieved a wide operating temperature range (25-80 °C), a pressure sensitivity range (0-30 kPa), and high optical transparency (>80%).
Conclusions:
- The developed flexible temperature sensor offers a streamlined, single-layer solution for combined thermal and pressure monitoring.
- The high transparency and flexibility of the GPANI-PVB thin film sensor make it suitable for advanced wearable applications and electronic skins.
- This work paves the way for next-generation integrated sensors in wearable technology and human-machine interfaces.
