Application of highly stretchy PDMS-based sensing fibers for sensitive weavable strain sensors

Compared with the traditional 2D/3D structure sensors, the 1D structure sensors are three-dimensionally deformable and can be woven into flexible textiles for wearable electronics. In the present work, highly stretchy strain sensors were developed using polydimethylsiloxane as the fiber core and multi-walled carbon nanotubes as the sheath. The strain sensors were fabricated with a facile fabrication process and exhibited broad sensing ranges (1–100%), excellent sensitivity, stable resistance, and good mechanical property. It has been demonstrated that the sensors can work under different stress states, such as stretching, twisting, or bending. The sensors based on polydimethylsiloxane and multi-walled carbon nanotubes exhibited a fast electric resistance response. After one circle of stretching/releasing, the sensor takes ~ 1 s to recover back to 70% of the original resistance and 90% within 5 s. The low-cost and straightforward fabrication process makes it a promising route to future flexible textile and wearable sensors.