Strain sensors based on carbon nanotubes-cuprous oxide composite

This paper presents the design, fabrication and experimental results of carbon nanotubes-cuprous oxide (CNTs-Cu2O) composite based strain sensors. The press-tablets were fabricated from the blend of CNTs (25 wt%) and Cu2O (75 wt%) at a pressure of 353 MPa. The diameter of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) varied between 10 and 30 nm. The sizes of Cu2O micro-particles were in the range of 3-4 mu m. The thickness of the press-tablets was 1 mm. The samples were installed on the polymer elastic beam by glue. The electric contacts to the samples were made by silver paste. The inter-electrodes distance (length) and diameter of the surface-type samples were in the range of 6-8 mm and 10 mm, respectively. The DC resistance of the strain sensors increases under tension and decreases under compression, while the average strain sensitivities are in the range of 44-46 and 24-28 for tension and compression, respectively. The simulation is in good agreement with the experimental results. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.