Carbon fiber-ZnO nanowire hybrid structures for flexible and adaptable strain sensors

Nanoscale. 2013 Dec 21;5(24):12350-5. doi: 10.1039/c3nr03536k.

Abstract

We report the flexible piezotronic strain sensors fabricated using carbon fiber-ZnO nanowire hybrid structures by a novel and reliable method. The I-V characteristic of the sensor shows high sensitivity to external strain due to the change in Schottky barrier height (SBH), which has a linear relationship with strain. This fabricated strain sensor has a quick, real-time current response under both static and dynamic mechanical loads. The change in SBH resulted from the strain-induced piezoelectric potential is investigated by band gap theory. In this work we develop a new feasible method to fabricate a flexible strain sensor within the fabric adapted to textile structures, able to measure their strain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't