Issue 18, 2019

High piezo-resistive performances of anisotropic composites realized by embedding rGO-based chitosan aerogels into open cell polyurethane foams

Abstract

Anisotropic aerogel-foam composites were developed by embedding a reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/chitosan aerogel directly into an open-cell polyurethane foam through an in situ bidirectional freeze-drying process. The resulting aerogel–foam composites possess both excellent compression-resilience performance and stable piezo-resistive properties due, respectively, to the excellent mechanical properties of polyurethane foams and to the presence of a chitosan-based aerogel loaded with rGO. The latter, indeed, provides outstanding electrical properties due to its conductive and parallel flat lamellar structure. It has been proven that both mechanical and piezo-resistive properties are stable even after 1000 loading/unloading cycles and a reduction of the electrical resistance of about 86% is observed upon the application of a 60% strain. The high sensitivity, long cycling life, and reliable performance over a wide strain range make this unique anisotropic aerogel-foam composite a highly promising candidate for the production of wearable sensors and healthcare monitoring devices.

Graphical abstract: High piezo-resistive performances of anisotropic composites realized by embedding rGO-based chitosan aerogels into open cell polyurethane foams

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 1 2019
Accepted
29 3 2019
First published
03 4 2019

Nanoscale, 2019,11, 8835-8844

High piezo-resistive performances of anisotropic composites realized by embedding rGO-based chitosan aerogels into open cell polyurethane foams

T. Zhai, L. Verdolotti, S. Kacilius, P. Cerruti, G. Gentile, H. Xia, M. Stanzione, G. G. Buonocore and M. Lavorgna, Nanoscale, 2019, 11, 8835 DOI: 10.1039/C9NR00157C

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