Low Operating Voltage Carbon-Graphene Hybrid E-textile for Temperature Sensing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Textile Engineering

Background:

• Developing advanced materials for wearable electronics is crucial.
• Textile-based sensors require high sensitivity, reliability, and mechanical stability.
• Graphene's unique properties offer potential for novel sensor applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize graphene-coated polypropylene (PP) textile fibers as temperature sensors.
• To evaluate the performance of different graphene types and fabrication methods.
• To assess the suitability of these sensors for integration into fabrics.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of graphene-coated PP fibers using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and shear exfoliation of graphite (SEG).
• Characterization of sensor performance, including negative thermal coefficient of resistance (TCR) and transient response.
• Analysis of graphene properties using temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy.
• Evaluation of sensor durability, including transparency, mechanical stability, and washability.

Main Results:

• Graphene-coated PP fibers demonstrated a negative TCR between 30-45 °C with good sensitivity and reliability.
• Trilayer graphene (TLG) grown by CVD on copper exhibited superior sensitivity compared to SEG.
• Carbon paste ensured good electrical contact for measurements.
• TLG-coated PP fibers showed excellent response, transparency, mechanical stability, and washability.
• Temperature variations had minimal impact on PP and expected effects on graphene.

Conclusions:

• Flexible, lightweight temperature sensors based on TLG-coated PP fibers with a negative TCR are feasible.
• CVD-grown TLG offers advantages in sensitivity and uniformity for textile sensor applications.
• These sensors can be readily integrated into fabrics for wearable applications.