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. 2023 Nov 8;16(22):7087.
doi: 10.3390/ma16227087.

Knittle Pressure Sensor Based on Graphene/Polyvinylidene Fluoride Nanocomposite Coated on Polyester Fabric

Surendra Maharjan  1 , Victor K Samoei  1 , Ahalapitiya H Jayatissa  1 , Joo-Hyong Noh  2 , Keiichiro Sano  2
Affiliations

Knittle Pressure Sensor Based on Graphene/Polyvinylidene Fluoride Nanocomposite Coated on Polyester Fabric

Surendra Maharjan et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

In this paper, a knittle pressure sensor was designed and fabricated by coating graphene/Polyvinylidene Fluoride nanocomposite on the knitted polyester substrate. The coating was carried out by a dip-coating method in a nanocomposite solution. The microstructure, surface properties and electrical properties of coated layers were investigated. The sensors were tested under the application of different pressures, and the corresponding sensor signals were analyzed in terms of resistance change. It was observed that the change in resistance was 55% kPa-1 with a sensitivity limit of 0.25 kPa. The sensor model was created and simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics software, and the model data were favorably compared with the experimental results. This investigation suggests that graphene-based nanocomposites can be used in knittle pressure sensor applications.

Keywords: flexibility; graphene/PVDF nanocomposite; knittle pressure sensor; piezoresistive; polyester fabric; textile.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 3
Figure 3
XRD pattern of graphene/PVDF nanocomposite.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) SEM image of the nanocomposite coated by spin coating [28], (b) optical image of the nanocomposite, (c) SEM image of nanocomposite coated on a polyester fiber (high resolution, (d) SEM image of uncoated polyester fabric (5 nm of gold were coated for SEM imaging purpose), and (e–g) SEM image of nanocomposite-coated polyester fabric at a different scale.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Schematic of (a) top view of the sensor, and (b) section view of deflection under applied pressure.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Fabrication steps of a knittle pressure sensor. (a) polyester fabric (b) adding copper tapes and wire terminal to the polyester fabric (c) coating the polyester fabric with the gr/PVDF nanocomposite (d) attaching the polyester fabric to a flexible rubber latex (e) final knittle sensor ready for experimental testing.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic diagram of the interaction between PVDF and graphene.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(a,b) Time response in terms of resistance changes at different pressures, and (c) repeatability test at three different pressures, the red square indicates a zoomed section of one of the repeatability test to clearly show the response and recovery time. In (a), P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 and P7 correspond to 0.25, 0.30, 0.80, 1.2, 1.7, 1.9 and 2.5 kPa, respectively.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Arrhenius plot of electrical conductivity of Graphene/PVDF nanocomposite with temperature.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of Graphene/PVDF nanocomposite with copper contacts. (Black line indicates as measured I-V data and red line indicates I-V characteristics assuming ohmic contacts).
Figure 9
Figure 9
(a) Displacement distribution, and (b) stress distribution on the sensor at 2.5 kPa.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Measured (continuous line) and simulated (broken line) sensor response as a function of pressure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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