The elastomer composed of a network of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and soft materials can fully utilize the conductivity, flexibility, and mechanical properties of CNTs, exhibiting significant potential applications in mechano-electric coupling devices, but challenge remains in constructing an elastomer that can maximally balance the aforementioned properties. Here we develop a bilayer conductive elastomer based on CNTs and polydimethylsiloxane, which makes well use of CNTs for the mechanical and electrical properties. When this elastomer is fabricated into a Janus film with one side full of protrusions and the other side being flat, and combined with a capacitive signal display, efficient sensing of external forces and their directions and distribution can be achieved. We believe this elastomer can provide more insight and support for the application of CNTs in a wider range of flexible devices.
Pour en savoir plus : A carbon-nanotube-based bilayer elastomer for spatial pressure sensing