Knitted Strain Sensor Textiles of Highly
Conductive All-Polymeric Fibers
Shayan Seyedin†‡, Joselito M. Razal*†‡,
Peter C. Innis†, Ali Jeiranikhameneh†, Stephen Beirne†, and Gordon G. Wallace*†
† Intelligent
Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials
Science, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong,
Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
‡ Institute for
Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2015, 7 (38),
pp 21150–21158
Abstract
A scaled-up fiber wet-spinning production
of electrically conductive and highly stretchable PU/PEDOT:PSS fibers is
demonstrated for the first time. The PU/PEDOT:PSS fibers possess the mechanical
properties appropriate for knitting various textile structures. The knitted
textiles exhibit strain sensing properties that were dependent upon the number
of PU/PEDOT:PSS fibers used in knitting. The knitted textiles show sensitivity
(as measured by the gauge factor) that increases with the number of
PU/PEDOT:PSS fibers deployed. A highly stable sensor response was observed when
four PU/PEDOT:PSS fibers were co-knitted with a commercial Spandex yarn. The
knitted textile sensor can distinguish different magnitudes of applied strain
with cyclically repeatable sensor responses at applied strains of up to 160%.
When used in conjunction with a commercial wireless transmitter, the knitted
textile responded well to the magnitude of bending deformations, demonstrating
potential for remote strain sensing applications. The feasibility of an
all-polymeric knitted textile wearable strain sensor was demonstrated in a knee
sleeve prototype with application in personal training and rehabilitation
following injury.
