Achieving Super Sensitivity in Capacitive Strain Sensing by Electrode Fragmentation

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c07704
• Publication Date: 2021-07-26T15:59:10Z
• Authors: Hussein Nesser; Gilles Lubineau
• Keywords: Gauge factor; Strain (injury); Strain gauge

Accurate wireless strain monitoring is critical for many engineering applications. Capacitive sensors are well suited remote sensing but currently have a limited sensitivity. This study presents new approach improving the sensitivity of electrical capacitance change-based sensors. Our technology based on dielectric elastomer layer laminated between two fragmented electrodes (i.e., carbon nanotube papers) that, by design, experiences significant change in resistance (from Ω to MΩ) when stretched and makes sensor behave as transmission line, well-known structure telecommunication engineering. The strain-dependent voltage attenuation over length results large variation effective (gauge factor exceeding 37 at 3% strain).