Electrospun Coaxial Nanofibers for Flexible Strain Sensing in Smart Textile

Flexible strain sensors are key elements for many developing wearable electronic devices to monitor human activity. H. Here we are presenting an approach for the fabrication of strain-sensitive nanofiber threads utilizing an electrospinning process. A core-shell nanofibers, where a conductive core is automatically covered by an insulating layer, were produced from polyvinylidene fluoride as a base material and carbon nanotubes as a conductive filler. The nanocomposite core exhibits strong resistive strain-gauge response. We further demonstrate the possibility of incorporating the synthesized material onto fabric and utilizing a simple interface for detecting human movements. The presented technique of strain-sensitive material fabrication is simple and could be applied to many areas including the development of smart textile.