Knitted Strain Sensor Textiles of Highly Conductive All-Polymeric Fibers.
A scaled-up fiber wet-spinning production of electrically conductive and highly stretchable PU/PEDOT:PSS fibers is demonstrated for the first time. The PU/PEDOT:PSS fibers possess the mechanical properties appropriate for knitting various textile structures. The knitted textiles exhibit strain sensing properties that were dependent upon the number of PU/PEDOT:PSS fibers used in knitting. The knitted textiles show sensitivity (as measured by the gauge factor) that increases with the number of PU/PEDOT:PSS fibers deployed. A highly stable sensor response was observed when four PU/PEDOT:PSS fibers were co-knitted with a commercial Spandex yarn. The knitted textile sensor can distinguish different magnitudes of applied strain with cyclically repeatable sensor responses at applied strains of up to 160%. When used in conjunction with a commercial wireless transmitter, the knitted textile responded well to the magnitude of bending deformations, demonstrating potential for remote strain sensing applications. The feasibility of an all-polymeric knitted textile wearable strain sensor was demonstrated in a knee sleeve prototype with application in personal training and rehabilitation following injury.
Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia.|Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University , Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia.
Shayan
S
Seyedin
Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia.|Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University , Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia.
Joselito M
JM
Razal
Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia.
Peter C
PC
Innis
Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia.
Ali
A
Jeiranikhameneh
Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia.
Stephen
S
Beirne
Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia.
Gordon G
GG
Wallace
D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000737:chemistry; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry; D013784:Textiles; D059015:Wireless Technology
D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011140:Polyurethanes; C121383:poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene); C003321:polystyrene sulfonic acid
PEDOT:PSS; composite fibers; knitted textiles; polyurethane; strain sensors; wet-spinning