Production and characterization of Graphene Nanoplatelet-based ink for smart textile strain sensors via screen printing technique

Fabrizio Marra; Serena Minutillo; Alessio Tamburrano; Maria Sabrina Sarto

Materials & Design (Jan 2021)

Production and characterization of Graphene Nanoplatelet-based ink for smart textile strain sensors via screen printing technique

Fabrizio Marra,
Serena Minutillo,
Alessio Tamburrano,
Maria Sabrina Sarto

Affiliations

Fabrizio Marra: Dept. of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, via Eudossiana 18, Rome 00184, Italy; Research Center for Nanotechnology applied to Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, p.le Aldo Moro5, Rome 00184, Italy; Corresponding author at: Dept. of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, via Eudossiana 18, Rome 00184, Italy
Serena Minutillo: Dept. of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, via Eudossiana 18, Rome 00184, Italy; Research Center for Nanotechnology applied to Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, p.le Aldo Moro5, Rome 00184, Italy
Alessio Tamburrano: Dept. of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, via Eudossiana 18, Rome 00184, Italy; Research Center for Nanotechnology applied to Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, p.le Aldo Moro5, Rome 00184, Italy
Maria Sabrina Sarto: Dept. of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, via Eudossiana 18, Rome 00184, Italy; Research Center for Nanotechnology applied to Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, p.le Aldo Moro5, Rome 00184, Italy

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 198
p. 109306

Abstract

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Wearable systems are becoming highly attractive in different application areas. Recently, particular attention has been focused on the development of personal portable devices for monitoring occupational safety and health. Smart clothes based on strain sensors integrated on fabric seem to be a promising solution for real-time measurement of physiological endpoints. However, the development through a simple and cost-effective process of smart textiles characterized by high sensitivity, wearability and stable response even during physical activity, in case of exposition to environmental conditions and after washing is still challenging. In this work, the authors have developed a novel strain sensor made of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) properly dispersed into a water-based transparent ink, then deposited via screen printing technique on a synthetic fabric. Rheological investigations of the GNP-filled inks, morphological characterization of coated fabrics, electrical measurements of films obtained with different GNPs concentrations were performed. Smart textile specimens loaded with 3%wt and 3.8%wt of GNP-based inks were characterized through quasi-static tensile tests to investigate the electromechanical response, even after a washing cycle. Specimens have shown a sensitivity of about 30 for a strain of 5%. This performance is interesting for different applications such as monitoring of respiratory and heart rates.

Published in Materials & Design

ISSN: 0264-1275 (Print); 1873-4197 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/materials-and-design

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