One-Stop Strategy for Obtaining Controllable Sensitivity and Feasible Self-Patterning in Silver Nanowires/Elastomer Nanocomposite-Based Stretchable Ultrathin Strain Sensors

초록

In this study, selective photo-oxidation (SPO) is proposedas asimple, fast, and scalable one-stop strategy that enables simultaneousself-patterning and sensitivity adjustment of ultrathin stretchablestrain sensors. The SPO of an elastic substrate through irradiationtime-controlled ultraviolet treatment in a confined region enablesprecise tuning of both the surface energy and the elastic modulus.SPO induces the hydrophilization of the substrate, thereby allowingthe self-patterning of silver nanowires (AgNWs). In addition, it promotesthe formation of nonpermanent microcracks of AgNWs/elastomer nanocompositesunder the action of strain by increasing the elastic modulus. Thiseffect improves sensor sensitivity by suppressing the charge transportpathway. Consequently, AgNWs are directly patterned with a width of100 & mu;m or less on the elastic substrate, and AgNWs/elastomer-basedultrathin and stretchable strain sensors with controlled sensitivitywork reliably in various operating frequencies and cyclic stretching.Sensitivity-controlled strain sensors successfully detect both smalland large movements of the human hand.

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