Preparation and Applications of Silver Nanowire-Polyurethane Flexible Sensor

To expand the application of silver nanowires (AgNWs) in the field of flexible sensors, this study developed a stretchable flexible sensor based on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Initially, the TPU nanofiber membrane was prepared by electrospinning. Subsequently, high-aspect-ratio AgNWs were synthesized via a one-step polyol reduction method. The AgNWs with the optimal aspect ratio were selected for the conductive layer and spray-coated onto the surface of the TPU nanofiber membrane. Another layer of TPU nanofiber membrane was then laminated on top, resulting in a flexible thin-film sensor with a "sandwich" structure. Through morphological, chemical structure, and crystallinity analyses, the primary factors influencing AgNWs' growth were investigated. Performance tests revealed that the prepared AgNWs had an average length of approximately 130 μm, a diameter of about 80 nm, and an average aspect ratio exceeding 1500, with the highest being 1921. The obtained sensor exhibited a low initial resistance (26.7 Ω), high strain range (sensing, ε = 0-150%), high sensitivity (GF, over 19.21), fast response and recovery time (112 ms), and excellent conductivity (428 S/cm). Additionally, the sensor maintained stable resistance after 3000 stretching cycles at a strain range of 0-10%. The sensor could output stable and recognizable electrical signals, demonstrating significant potential for applications in motion monitoring, human-computer interaction, and healthcare fields.