Preparation and performance study of RGO/CNTs modified cotton fabric-based flexible pressure sensors

To address the key challenges in the synergistic optimization of low-cost fabrication, high sensing performance in wearable electronic textiles, this study developed a flexible pressure sensor based on cotton fabric modified with a synergistic combination of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Through a simple and efficient ultrasonic-assisted immersion combined with a chemical in-situ reduction process, a uniform RGO/CNTs hybrid conductive network was successfully constructed on the surface of knitted cotton fabric fibers, forming a sensing layer with a hierarchical microstructure. System characterization and performance evaluation demonstrated that the synergistic effect of RGO and CNTs significantly enhanced sensor performance: compared to single RGO modification, the composite sensor’s sensitivity increased by 131% (from 0.99 to 2.29 kPa⁻¹), while the pressure detection range was expanded to 0～142 kPa. Benefiting from the layered porous structure of the textile substrate and stable interface bonding, the sensor demonstrates outstanding comprehensive performance, including high sensitivity (2.29 kPa⁻¹) in the low-pressure range (0～25.69 kPa), fast dynamic response (response/recovery time: 84ms/92ms), a wide linear detection range (0～142 kPa), and excellent mechanical stability (no significant performance degradation after 12,000 compression cycles). Practical application verification confirms that this sensor can be used in fields such as human health monitoring, motion monitoring, and voice monitoring, demonstrating its potential applications in wearable electronics and smart clothing.