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Contact-Resistance-Free Stretchable Strain Sensors with High Repeatability and Linearity
Shuang Li1,2, Guodong Liu1,2, Rui Li3
1State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
ACS Nano
|December 17, 2021
Summary
This study introduces a novel stretchable strain sensor design, the off-axis serpentine sandwich structure (OASSS), which eliminates unstable contact resistance. This new sensor offers superior repeatability and linearity for accurate strain monitoring in diverse applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
Background:
- Existing stretchable strain sensors rely on contact-resistance mechanisms.
- Instability in electrical responses, poor repeatability, and nonlinearity are common issues due to fluctuating microstructural contact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel stretchable strain sensor with enhanced stability and performance.
- To overcome the limitations of contact-resistance-based sensors.
Main Methods:
- Introduction of the off-axis serpentine sandwich structure (OASSS).
- Utilizing a stretch-bending-stretch transformation (SBST) mechanism.
- Experimental validation of sensor performance under large strain.
Main Results:
- The OASSS design eliminates unstable contact resistance.
- Achieved high repeatability (error = 1.58%) and linearity (goodness-of-fit > 0.999) up to 50% strain.
- Demonstrated stable electrical responses without nonlinear behaviors.
Conclusions:
- The OASSS offers a contact-resistance-free approach for highly reliable stretchable strain sensing.
- The sensor's performance enables applications in human activity monitoring, medical surgery, and aerospace testing.
- This design represents a significant advancement in stretchable sensor technology.
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