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Strain sensors based on conducting poly(acrylamide) hydrogels

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2020

Matthias KünzelOpen the ORCID record for Matthias Künzel[Opens in a new window] and
Marc in het PanhuisOpen the ORCID record for Marc in het Panhuis[Opens in a new window]
Matthias Künzel
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
Marc in het Panhuis*
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, AIIM Facility, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.Surf Flex Lab, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
*
*(Email: panhuis@uow.edu.au)
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Abstract

A simple model system towards an impedance-probing strain sensor based on conducting tough hydrogels is demonstrated. A poly(acrylamide) hydrogel, cross-linked with N,N’-methylene-bis(acrylamide) was contacted with carbon fibres for electrical impedance analysis. The conductivity of the salt-containing hydrogel was determined to be 114 ± 10 mS/cm. Upon stretching the hydrogel samples to their fourfold initial length, the impedance response increased according to a power law. This was used to establish a sensing equation for the relation between the resistive component of the impedance signal and the applied mechanical strain under tension. This work contributes to the development of highly stretchable and soft strain sensors for applications in soft robotics.

Keywords

compositeelastic propertieselectrical propertieselectronic materialsol-gel

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Type
Articles
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MRS Advances , Volume 5 , Issue 17: Soft Materials and Biomaterials , 2020, pp. 917 - 925
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2020

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