Strain sensors based on carbon nanotubes–cuprous oxide composite

This paper presents the design, fabrication and experimental results of carbon nanotubes–cuprous oxide (CNTs–Cu2O) composite based strain sensors. The press-tablets were fabricated from the blend of CNTs (25 wt%) and Cu2O (75 wt%) at a pressure of 353 MPa. The diameter of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) varied between 10 and 30 nm. The sizes of Cu2O micro-particles were in the range of 3–4 μm. The thickness of the press-tablets was 1 mm. The samples were installed on the polymer elastic beam by glue. The electric contacts to the samples were made by silver paste. The inter-electrodes distance (length) and diameter of the surface-type samples were in the range of 6–8 mm and 10 mm, respectively. The DC resistance of the strain sensors increases under tension and decreases under compression, while the average strain sensitivities are in the range of 44–46 and 24–28 for tension and compression, respectively. The simulation is in good agreement with the experimental results.