Fabrication of paper-based load sensor by using the multi-walled carbon nanotubes ink

Abstract

The fabrication of a mechanically flexible load sensor is reported. The sensor has the shape of cantilever beam on the paper substrate. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) ink was used as the sensing component because of its piezoresistive and electromechanical properties. In addition, simple carbon ink was also used as the sensing component in order to make a comparison between the piezoresistive effect of MWNTs ink and simple carbon ink. The results showed that using MWNTs ink instead of simple carbon increased the range of linearity and gauge factor of the sensor which are two important designing factors. This sensor is inexpensive, simple to fabricate, lightweight, and disposable.