title: Flexible piezoelectric ZnO-paper nanocomposite strain sensor.
abstract: The fabrication of a mechanically flexible, piezoelectric nanocomposite material for strain sensing applications is reported. Nanocomposite material consisting of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures embedded in a stable matrix of paper (cellulose fibers) is prepared by a solvothermal method. The applicability of this material as a strain sensor is demonstrated by studying its real-time current response under both static and dynamic mechanical loading. The material presented highlights a novel approach to introduce flexibility into strain sensors by embedding crystalline piezoelectric material in a flexible cellulose-based secondary matrix.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Hemtej
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gullapalli
authors.forename: Venkata S M
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Vemuru
authors.forename: Ashavani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Botello-Mendez
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vajtai
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terrones
authors.forename: Satish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagarajaiah
authors.forename: Pulickel M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ajayan
mesh_terms: D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015034:Zinc Oxide