Highly sensitive electronic whiskers based on patterned carbon nanotube and silver nanoparticle composite films.

ABSTRACT: Mammalian whiskers present an important class of tactile sensors that complement the functionalities of skin for detecting wind with high sensitivity and navigation around local obstacles. Here, we report electronic whiskers based on highly tunable composite films of carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticles that are patterned on high-aspect-ratio elastic fibers. The nanotubes form a conductive network matrix with excellent bendability, and nanoparticle loading enhances the conductivity and endows the composite with high strain sensitivity. The resistivity of the composites is highly sensitive to strain with a pressure sensitivity of up to ∼8%/Pa for the whiskers, which is >10× higher than all previously reported capacitive or resistive pressure sensors. It is notable that the resistivity

SUBMITTER: Takei K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3918780 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature