Synthesis of Hybrid CNT Nanocomposite for Skin Sensor

An innovative approach using flexible sensors based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is rapidly gaining prominence in health monitoring, human motion tracking, and artificial intelligence (AI). These flexible strain sensors, which mimic the properties of skin, function as transducers by generating signals in response to various spatial and impact conditions. In this study, CNT-based flexible strain sensors were developed using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and Ecoflex with a 2 wt% CNT concentration. The hybrid CNT nanocomposites were fabricated through a drop casting method, with the objective of optimizing fabrication parameters to produce highly sensitive sensors. The electrical properties, specifically on conductivity and sensitivity, were measured and analysed to evaluate performance. The study found that sonicating the CNT solution at room temperature (23°C) with 80% amplitude for 5 minutes produced a solid but slightly sticky sample that cured properly. Under these fabrication conditions, the CNT/PDMS/PTFE composite demonstrated a satisfactory response, with a relatively high conductivity of 0.05023 S/m and high sensitivity of 44.246. This study provides optimized parameters for synthesizing CNT-based hybrid nanocomposites to enhance sensing performance. The results may contribute to the design of next-generation, advanced strain sensors with enhanced performance, reliability, and potential integration in biomedical and soft robotics technologies.