Fabrication of Strain Gauges via Contact Printing: A Simple Route to Healthcare Sensors Based on Cross-Linked Gold Nanoparticles
Journal
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Journal Volume
10
Journal Issue
43
Pages
37374-37385
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Abstract
In this study, we developed a novel and efficient process for the fabrication of resistive strain gauges for healthcare-related applications. First, 1,9-nonanedithiol cross-linked gold nanoparticle (GNP) films were prepared via layer-by-layer (LbL) spin-coating and subsequently transferred onto flexible polyimide foil by contact printing. Four-point bending tests revealed linear response characteristics with gauge factors of ?14 for 4 nm GNPs and ?26 for 7 nm GNPs. This dependency of strain sensitivity is attributed to the perturbation of charge carrier tunneling between neighboring GNPs, which becomes more efficient with increasing particle size. Fatigue tests revealed that the strain-resistance performance remained nearly the same after 10.000 strain/relaxation cycles. We demonstrate that these sensors are well suited to monitor muscle movements. Furthermore, we fabricated all-printed strain sensors by directly transferring cross-linked GNP films onto soft PDMS sheets equipped with interdigitated electrodes. Due to the low elastic modulus of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), these sensors are easily deformed and, therefore, they respond sensitively to faint forces. When taped onto the skin above the radial artery, they enable the well-resolved and robust recording of pulse waves with diagnostically relevant details. ? 2018 American Chemical Society.
Subjects
gold; nanoparticle; PDMS; polyimide; printing; pulse; sensor; strain gauge
SDGs
Other Subjects
Bending tests; Fabrication; Fatigue testing; Gold; Health care; Metal nanoparticles; Microchannels; Nanoparticles; Particle size; Polyimides; Printing; Pulse width modulation; Sensors; Strain gages; Charge carrier tunneling; Flexible polyimide; Four-point bending test; Inter-digitated electrodes; Low elastic modulus; Polydimethylsiloxane PDMS; pulse; Strain sensitivity; Gold nanoparticles; baysilon; cross linking reagent; dimeticone; gold; metal nanoparticle; chemistry; electrode; equipment design; genetic procedures; human; materials testing; particle size; pathophysiology; printing; skeletal muscle; transmission electron microscopy; Biosensing Techniques; Cross-Linking Reagents; Dimethylpolysiloxanes; Electrodes; Equipment Design; Gold; Humans; Materials Testing; Metal Nanoparticles; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Muscle, Skeletal; Particle Size; Printing
Type
journal article