Sensitivity Optimization of MEMS Based Piezoresistive Pressure Sensor for Harsh Environment

Silicon - Silicon carbide piezoresistive pressure sensor is more suitable for harsh environment due to its wide bandgap, corrosion tolerance, excellent chemical inertness, high Young’s...     

A Simulation Approach to Study the Effect of SiC Polytypism Factor on Sensitivity of Piezoresistive MEMS Pressure Sensor

Silicon - SiC is a well known wide band gap semiconductor explored for realizing the piezoresistive micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) pressure sensors for harsh environments. In this work a...     

Piezoresistive behavior of graphene nanoplatelets/carbon black/silicone rubber nanocomposite

Silicon rubber (SR) filled with carbon black (CB) and carbon black (CB)/graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) hybrid fillers are synthesized via a liquid mixing method. The effects of filler type on the electrical properties and piezoresistive properties (near the region of the percolation) of the conductive SR composites are studied. It is suggested that the conductivity of the composite filled with CB/GNPs hybrid fillers in the mass ratio of 2 : 4 is much higher than that in other ratio. Percolation threshold for CB/GNPs/SR is found to be 0.18 volume fractions lower than CB/SR. Moreover, force rang and linearity of GNPs/CB/SR is higher than CB alone filling system. And the repeatability of the GNPs/CB/SR composites is better than CB/SR. Not repetitive index () of them is 0.1 and 0.18, respectively. The results suggest that the GNPs/CB/SR composites provide a new route toward fabrication of flexible piezoresistive sensors with high performance. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39778.     

Using a conductive sphere as a probe to characterize the sensitivity of soft piezoresistive films

Flexible piezoresistive films, such as, carbon black/polydimethylsiloxane (C-PDMS) composites, are often used as skin analogs and integrated into complex array sensors for tactile sensing. The uniformity of the sensor characteristics heavily depends on the homogeneity of the composite. Therefore, the ability to locally characterize a film that will be integrated into a complex force sensor could be critical. Here, a method to characterize the local sensitivity of flexible piezoresistive films is presented. Using a conductive sphere, which was chosen over a flat probe to eliminate misalignment issues, the surface of a thin film composite is indented to characterize the change in resistivity in terms of average strain. Experiments were performed with 15 and 18 wt% carbon black C-PDMS films of varying thickness. The contact radius of the probe with the piezoresistive film was estimated using the Johnson-Roberts-Kendall contact theory. Theoretical contact area estimates were found to agree with contact radius measurements carried out using optically transparent PDMS films observed through an optical microscope. Results show that C-PDMS with 15 wt% carbon black exhibit a higher rate if change of resistivity and gauge factor than films of same thickness with 18 wt% carbon black. On the other hand, thicker films exhibit higher gauge factors for the two tested carbon black contents. Tests carried out at multiple locations yielded consistent sensitivity values, making these types of composites suitable for array type force sensors.     

Piezoresistivities of vapor‐grown carbon fiber/silicone foams for tactile sensor applications

Due to the growing demand for tactile sensors, the possibility of detecting an external uniaxial pressure by the piezoresistive measuring of a conductive filler/elastomer composite was investigated. A series of piezoresistive models are discussed. Novel highly sensitive piezoresistive foams with excellent elasticity were fabricated using vapor‐grown carbon fiber (VGCF), two‐component silicone elastomer and a new type of thermally expandable micro beads foaming agent to overcome the disadvantages of the silicone elastomer in the utilization of a tactile sensor. Deformations of the foams caused by uniaxial pressure were observed using scanning electron microscopy from cross‐sections. Effects of the VGCF and the foaming agent on the piezoresistivitiy were investigated. The piezoresistive mechanisms of the foams are discussed according to the measurements, and good fit was found between the theoretical calculations and the experimental piezoresistivity measurements. It is found that the addition of the micro beads foaming agent can improve the piezoresistivity of the VGCF/silicone foam and increase the sensitivity and repeatability for its application in a tactile sensor. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Poly(3-hexylthiophene) wrapped carbon nanotube/poly(dimethylsiloxane) composites for use in finger-sensing piezoresistive pressure sensors

We fabricated a piezoresistive composite using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a conductive filler and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a polymer matrix, which operated in the extremely small pressure range required for finger-sensing. To achieve a homogeneous dispersion of MWCNTs in PDMS, the MWCNTs were modified by a polymer wrapping method using poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). The percolation threshold of the composites was significantly lowered by the presence of P3HT. The electrical conductivity and piezoresistive sensitivity of the composite were found to strongly depend on the P3HT concentration. The well-dispersed P3HT-MWCNT/PDMS composite showed good piezoresistive characteristics in the 0–0.12 MPa pressure range.     

Nonmonotonic piezoresistive effect in elastomeric composite films

We compared the change of electrical resistance with elongation (piezoresistive effect) in thin films made of conductive multiwalled carbon nanotubes embedded in eight different elastomers. Two distinct forms of piezoresistive effect were observed: (i) in the “monotonic” (M) case, the film resistance always increased with the applied strain; (ii) the “nonmonotonic” (NM) case showed an initial increase in the resistance, while with further elongation the resistance began to decrease. By varying the amount of nitrile and/or styrene groups in the polymer matrix one can alter the piezoresistive effect qualitatively: composites with ～25 wt % or more of nitrile or styrene functional side groups exhibited M piezoresistance, while others, with no, or methyl side groups only, showed NM piezoresistance. Influence of the second filler (either conductive carbon black or nonconductive nanoclay) in the ternary composites on the piezoresistive effect was explored. The possibility to modify the piezoresistive behavior of the conductive elastomer composites, for example, via chemical modification of the polymeric matrix, opens up a new venue for practical applications such as diverse types of sensors and, in NM case, complex dynamical systems (bistable elements, electromechanical oscillators, etc.) in the MEMS field. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43518.     

Stress Alleviation and Crop Improvement Using Silicon Nanoparticles in Agriculture: a Review

Silicon - Silicon (Si) is not considered as essential element for plant growth and development but it provides benefits to the plants in several ways. Due to distinguishing physiological features,...     

Processing Methods of Silicon to its Ingot: a Review

Silicon - Any metal must be processed from its ore before employing it in various industrial applications; this is the similar case with Silicon (Si) as well. Occurring in the form of silicates in...     

A Double Core-shell Structure Silicon Carbon Composite Anode Material for a Lithium Ion Battery

Silicon - Silicon with high theoretical specific capacity is a promising anode material, but the poor electronic conductivity and excessive volume expansion hinder its practical application. In...     

A Silicon Carbonitride Ceramic with Anomalously High Piezoresistivity

The piezoresistive behavior of a silicon carbonitride ceramic derived from a polymer precursor is investigated under a uniaxial compressive loading condition. The electric conductivity has been measured as a function of the applied stress along both longitudinal and transverse directions. The gauge factor of the materials was then calculated from the data at different stress levels. The results show that the material exhibits an extremely high piezoresistive coefficient along both directions, ranging from 1000 to 4000, which are much higher than any existing ceramic material. The results also reveal that the gauge factor decreases significantly with increasing applied stress. A theoretical model based on the tunneling–percolation mechanism has been developed to explain the stress dependence of the gauge factor. The unique piezoresistive behavior is attributed to the unique self-assembled nanodomain structure of the material.     

Diamond-Like Carbon - Coated Silicon Nanowires as a Supercapacitor Electrode in an Aqueous LiClO4 Electrolyte

Silicon - Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were successfully coated by uniform, adherent, and homogenous films of diamond-like carbon (DLC) using electrophoretic method. The coating was performed in an...     

Enhanced piezoresistivity of polymer-derived SiCN ceramics by regulating divinylbenzene-induced free carbon

In-situ formed free carbon nanodomain is an unique feature of polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs), which plays a significant role to affect the properties of PDCs, especially for the electoral property and piezoresistivity. In this study we report an enhanced piezoresistive properties of amorphous silicon carbonitrides (SiCN) ceramics derived by divinylbenzene (DVB)-modified polysilazane. Microstructure analysis indicated that the free carbon phase in SiCN ceramics is gradually increasing in order degree and concentration with increasing content of DVB. The average spacing between the conducting particles decreases with increasing concentration of free carbon, resulting in an enhanced internal electric field. The effects of DVB concentration on the piezoresistive properties of SiCN ceramics are also discussed, finding that the DVB has a significant effect on the piezoresistive properties.     

Improvement of a Novel SOI- MESFET with an Embedded GaN Layer for High-Frequency Operations

Silicon - In this paper, we propose a novel Silicon on Insulator (SOI) Metal Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MESFET) with an embedded GaN layer (GL-SOI-MESFET) for modifying the electric...     

Investigating the Source Stack Engineering Effect on the Drive Current of a Tunneling Field Effect Transistor

Silicon - In this Research, the Effect of Source Stack Engineering on the Drive Current of a Proposed Silicon on Insulator-Tunnel FET (SOI-TFET) Is Investigated. The Proposed TFET Scheme Is Similar...     

基于弹性聚合物复合材料的压阻式柔性应变传感器研究进展

综述了近年来基于弹性聚合物复合材料的压阻式柔性应变传感器的研究现状,包括压阻式柔性应变传感器的结构、传感机理、传感器基质,以及导电材料种类、结构控制方法及应用等。指出了现阶段压阻式柔性应变传感器研究面临的主要问题,并对其未来发展方向进行了展望。     

Piezoresistive effect in spin-coated polyaniline thin films

Polymeric materials have been replacing other materials in various applications, from structural to electronic components. In particular, since the discovery of conducting polymers, the use of these materials is growing up in the manufacture of electronic components, such as organic light-emitting diodes, organic electrodes, energy storage devices and artificial muscles, among others. On the other hand, examples of sensors of conductive polymers based on the piezoresistive effect, with large potential for applications, are not sufficiently investigated. This work reports on the piezoresistive effect of an intrinsically conductive polymer, polyaniline, which was prepared in the form of thin films by spin coating on polyethylene terephthalate substrates. The relationship between electrical response and mechanical solicitations is presented for different preparation conditions. The values of the gauge factor ranges from 10 to 22 for different samples and demonstrates the viability of these materials as piezoresistive sensors.     

不同混合导电掺和料水泥基复合材料压阻特性的实验研究

利用纳米石墨、炭黑等导电掺料制作的水泥基复合材料的压阻特性可进行交通违规监测.本文实验研究了由石墨、炭黑、碳纤维任意两导电掺料组成的复合导电相制作的高导电长方柱水泥基复合材料,在标准车载大小、不同荷载循环周期作用下的压阻特性.实验表明一定车载力作用下,所选配比情况,含石墨和碳纤维混合掺料的水泥基复合材料的压阻特性最好,含石墨和炭黑复合导电相的次之,含炭黑和碳纤维复合导电相压阻特性不明显.     

Silicon Application to Soil Increases the Yield and Quality of Table Grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) Grown in a Semiarid Climate of Brazil

Silicon - Silicon (Si) acts to reduce biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. Herein, we aimed to assess the impact of an amorphous silica-based fertilizer (ASF) applied to soil on the yield,...     

Magneto-piezoresistive characteristics of graphene/room temperature vulcanized silicon rubber-silicon rubber magnetorheological elastomer

The effect of graphene with different content on the magneto-piezoresistive characteristics of graphene/room temperature vulcanized silicon rubber (GR/RTV) magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) was studied, and the relationship between the content of graphene and conductivity of GR/RTV-MRE was described based on the general effective medium theory. A magneto-piezoresistive model was established to describe the relationship among resistance, pressure, and magnetic field based on the magnetic dipole and tunneling theory. The samples of GR/RTV-MRE with different content of graphene were prepared. The experimental platform with magneto-piezoresistive characteristics controlled by magnetic field was built. The effect of graphene with different content on piezoresistive coefficient of GR/RTV-MRE was obtained under different magnetic flux density. The experimental results showed that the piezoresistive coefficients of samples with different content of graphene decrease with the increase of magnetic flux density in the range of 0 ~ 80mT. For the same magnetic field, when the volume fraction of graphene is less than 12%, the piezoresistive coefficient is positively correlated with it, when the volume fraction of graphene is more than 12%; the increase of content has little effect on the piezoresistive characteristics. The experimental results are compared with theoretical calculations for correction and error analysis. The results showed that the modified model can well describe the variation of the resistance of GR/RTV-MRE under magnetic field and pressure.