Yeon Jae Kim, Dae dong Park, Pauline May A. Losaria and Jin-Heong Yim
In this study, conducting polymer – SiO2 hybrid conductive strain sensors fabricated via simultaneous co-vaporization of conductive polymer (CP) with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) are reported. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and polypyrrole (PPy) systems prepared using the oxidant, iron (III) p-toluenesulfonate(FTS) with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) as the substrate are both explored and the effect of hybridization on the sensing performance and mechanical properties of the sensors was investigated. The SiO2 was formed mostly on the surface and the CP was still successfully polymerized within the TPU matrix. It was found out that the hybrid sensor had enhanced mechanical property, specifically, greater stretchability than its pristine counterpart. Electromechanical test at stretch-release cycles have shown that hybridization is able to enhance relative resistance of the sensor, thereby improving its sensitivity. The use of VPP in creating organic-inorganic hybrid sensor was demonstrated. The combined elastic property and processability of the elastomer, the conductive property of the conducting polymer, the mechanical versatility of the silica and the advantages of the VPP process was successfully integrated in this study.
