High-Performance Sensors Based on Chinese Ink and Water-Based Glue for Detection of Strain, Temperature, and Humidity

Flexible sensors with high sensitivity and reproducibility have critical applications in various industrial fields. However, current sensors have not yet been able to respond to diverse signal changes in the environment due to their poor stability, weak conductivity, high cost, and time-consuming integration process. Herein, we used dip-coating technology to prepare multifunctional rubber flexible sensors which were based on the Chinese ink carbon nanoparticle (ICN) and water-based glue. The prepared flexible sensors have the ability to sensitively detect temperature, humidity, and strain signals. The conductive ICN can well adhere on the elastic substrate (natural rubber latex glove), which gives the flexible sensors excellent structural stability even after 500 cycles. The strain response and recovery time of the flexible sensors are 132.8 and 133.8 ms, respectively. The flexible sensors can sensitively detect tiny pressure, human body movements, pronunciation, and human facial expression. Moreover, the prepared high-performance flexible sensors can also be used as temperature and humidity sensors, which displayed a good linear relationship between resistance change and the external signals. This work developed a simple, green, high-efficiency, and low-cost flexible sensors, which shows promising potential in wearable electronic devices for detection of strain, humidity, and temperature.