Fabric-based Piezoresistive Flexible Pressure Sensor Jet Printing Molding

doi:10.3901/JME.2025.03.403

Abstract

Abstract: The flexible pressure sensor is an essential component of wearable smart textiles, which is the key to realizing the interaction between the human body and external information. As one critical ingredient of sensors, electrodes are significant in sensor signal transformation. Aiming at the existing fabric-based flexible pressure sensor electrode preparation process is complicated, with a low integration degree with fabric. The work proposes a method of forming metal electrodes on fabric surfaces using a combination of microdroplet spraying and chemical deposition techniques to realize the preparation of fabric-based flexible pressure sensors using polyester fabric impregnated with carbon nanotube solution as a piezoresistive layer. The prepared electrodes and piezoresistive layers were observed microscopically, and the performance and application of the prepared sensors are tested. The results show that the generating silver particles are homogeneous and coat the fabric surface, with an average sheet resistance of 0.029 Ω/sq for the fabric metal electrodes; there are voids between the fibers of the piezoresistive layer, which is compressible, and its surface resistance gradually decreases with the increase of the number of carbon nanotube solution dipping; the sensor can operate at 0 to 20 kPa, has a high sensitivity of 0.316 kPa^-1, good pressure and frequency response stability and repeatability. In addition, the sensor can provide clear feedback on finger pressing, finger bending, glottal knot vocalization, and music-playing signals, which have specific application prospects in motion monitoring and medical health.

Key words: smart textiles, microdroplet injection technology, flexible sensors, fabrics

CLC Number:

TP212

XIAO Yuan, TONG Yao, YANG Leipeng, GUO Xinlei, GUO Dongyuan. Fabric-based Piezoresistive Flexible Pressure Sensor Jet Printing Molding[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2025, 61(3): 403-410.

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