Tensible and flexible high-sensitive spandex fiber strain sensor enhanced by carbon nanotubes/Ag nanoparticles

Although the wearable strain sensors have received extensive research interest in recent years, it remains a huge challenge conforming the requirements in both of ultrahigh stretchability and high strain coefficient (gauge factor). Herein, a stretchable and flexible spandex fiber strain sensor coupled with carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) that assembled through an efficient and large-scale layer-by layer self-assembly is presented. To ensure CNTs and Ag NPs can attach well to the spandex fiber without falling off, achieving high sensitivity under large tensile, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, polyvinyl alcohol, and polystyrene sulfonic acid are introduced to improve the adhesion via the molecular entanglement and other interactions between them. Consequently, the strain sensor exhibits remarkable performance, such as an ultrahigh gauge factor of 58.5 in the low-strain range from 0% to 20%, a wide strain range (0%–200%), a fast response time of 42 ms and good working stability (>5000 stretching-releasing cycles). Subsequently, detailed mechanism of the sensor and its use in full range of human motion monitoring are further studied. It is worth noting that with the distinctive mechanism and structure, the special spandex fiber sensor is able to monitor minimum strain as low as 0.053%, showing tremendous prospect for the field of smart fabrics and wearable health care devices.