Preparation of Elastic Macroporous Graphene Aerogel Based on Pickering Emulsion Method and Combination with ETPU for High Performance Piezoresistive Sensors
Wei Zhao,
Hao Chen,
Yuqi Wang,
Qing Zhuo,
Yaopeng Liu,
Yuanyuan Li,
Hangyu Dong,
Shidong Li,
Linli Tan,
Jianfeng Tan,
Zhuo Liu,
Yingru Li
Affiliations
Wei Zhao
Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Super-Light Elastomer Materials of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China
Hao Chen
College of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China
Yuqi Wang
Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Super-Light Elastomer Materials of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China
Qing Zhuo
Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Super-Light Elastomer Materials of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China
Yaopeng Liu
College of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China
Yuanyuan Li
Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Super-Light Elastomer Materials of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China
Hangyu Dong
Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Super-Light Elastomer Materials of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China
Shidong Li
Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Super-Light Elastomer Materials of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China
Linli Tan
Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Super-Light Elastomer Materials of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China
Jianfeng Tan
Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Super-Light Elastomer Materials of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China
Zhuo Liu
Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Super-Light Elastomer Materials of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China
Yingru Li
Key Laboratory of Green Manufacturing of Super-Light Elastomer Materials of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China
High-performance pressure sensors provide the necessary conditions for smart shoe applications. In this paper, the elastic Macroporous Graphene Aerogel (MGA) was synthesized via the modified Hummers’ method, and it was further combined with Expanded-Thermoplastic polyurethane (ETPU) particles to assemble MGA-ETPU flexible sensors. The MGA-ETPU has a low apparent density (3.02 mg/cm3), high conductivity (0.024 S/cm) and fast response time (50 ms). The MGA-ETPU has a large linear sensing range (0–10 kPa) and consists of two linear regions: the low-pressure region (0 to 8 kPa) and the high-pressure region (8 to 10 kPa), with sensitivities of 0.08 kPa−1, and 0.246 kPa−1, respectively. Mechanical test results show that the MGA-ETPU sensor showed 19% reduction in maximum stress after 400 loading–unloading compression cycles at 40% strain. Electrical performance tests showed that the resistance of MGA-ETPU sensor decreased by 12.5% when subjected to sudden compression at 82% strain and returned to its original state within 0.05 s. Compared to existing flexible sensors, the MGA-ETPU sensors offer excellent performance and several distinct advantages, including ease of fabrication, high sensitivity, fast response time, and good flexibility. These remarkable features make them ideally suited as flexible pressure sensors for smart shoes.
