External field alignment of nickel-coated carbon fiber/PDMS composite for biological monitoring with high sensitivity

Shuxiang Jin; Bailang Zhang; Xueqing Liu; Bin Yang; Ruifeng Ge; Zhe Qiang; Yuwei Chen

doi:10.1515/polyeng-2022-0035

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External field alignment of nickel-coated carbon fiber/PDMS composite for biological monitoring with high sensitivity

Shuxiang Jin , Bailang Zhang , Xueqing Liu , Bin Yang , Ruifeng Ge , Zhe Qiang and Yuwei Chen

Published/Copyright: May 11, 2022

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From the journal Journal of Polymer Engineering Volume 42 Issue 7

Abstract

Flexible, pressure-sensitive composites can be prepared through the inclusion of electrically conductive particles as functional fillers into an elastomeric polymer matrix, which have been used for the applications of wearable devices for health monitoring and electronic skins. A key challenge associated with these composites is developing anisotropic pressure sensitivity while retaining their flexibility (or low filler content). Herein, we demonstrate a simple and scalable method for aligning anisotropic nickel-coated carbon fibers (NiCF) along with the thickness direction of a polymer matrix by applying a magnetic field. The aligning mechanisms and kinetics of NiCF in the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) precursor are revealed by in situ optical microscopy images while a magnetic field is applied. The aligned nickel-coated carbon fibers in the polymer effectively endow the composite films excellent pressure-sensitive performance. The pressure sensitivity of NiCF/PDMS composite films has been systematically studied and can be used for biological monitoring. We believe that this magnetic field assisted processing strategy provides a promising material solution for manufacturing fiber embedded polymer composites with enhanced pressure sensitivity, which is essential for future wearable health monitoring electronics and electronic skin.

Keywords: anisotropic; carbon fiber; magnetic field; polymer composites; pressure sensitivity

Corresponding authors: Ruifeng Ge, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China, E-mail: geruifeng@126.com; Zhe Qiang, School of Polymer Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA, E-mail: zhe.qiang@usm.edu; and Yuwei Chen, Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, Ministry of Education/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao City, 266042, China, E-mail: jslyjy@163.com

Funding source: Open Fund of Key Laboratory of Rubber Plastics, Ministry of Education/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Rubber-plastics

Award Identifier / Grant number: KF2020002

Funding source: National key Laboratory on ship vibration and noise

Award Identifier / Grant number: 6142204200608

Funding source: Opening Project of Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Chemical Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, Jianghan University

Award Identifier / Grant number: JDGD-202001

Funding source: Team Innovation Foundation of Hubei province

Award Identifier / Grant number: T201935

Funding source: National Natural Science Foundation of China

Award Identifier / Grant number: 51803103

Author contribution: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: The authors would like to acknowledge financial support from National Key Laboratory on Ship Vibration and Noise (6142204200608). This work has also received financial support from Team Innovation Foundation of Hubei province (T201935). This work is also supported by the Opening Project of Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Chemical Materials and Devices of Ministry of Education, Jianghan University (JDGD-202001) and Open Fund of Key Laboratory of Rubber Plastics, Ministry of Education/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Rubber–plastics (KF2020002) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51803103).
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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Received: 2022-02-17

Accepted: 2022-02-27

Published Online: 2022-05-11

Published in Print: 2022-08-26

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/polyeng-2022-0035

Keywords for this article

anisotropic; carbon fiber; magnetic field; polymer composites; pressure sensitivity