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Giant Piezoresistive Variation of Metal Particles Dispersed in PDMS Matrix

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2011

Stefano Stassi ,
Giancarlo Canavese ,
Mariangela Lombardi ,
Andrea Guerriero  and
Candido Fabrizio Pirri
Stefano Stassi
Affiliation:
Centre for Space Human Robotics, IIT-Italian Institute of Technology, C.so Trento 21, 10129 Torino, Italy Dept. of Physics, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Giancarlo Canavese
Affiliation:
Centre for Space Human Robotics, IIT-Italian Institute of Technology, C.so Trento 21, 10129 Torino, Italy
Mariangela Lombardi
Affiliation:
Centre for Space Human Robotics, IIT-Italian Institute of Technology, C.so Trento 21, 10129 Torino, Italy
Andrea Guerriero
Affiliation:
Centre for Space Human Robotics, IIT-Italian Institute of Technology, C.so Trento 21, 10129 Torino, Italy Dept. of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
Candido Fabrizio Pirri
Affiliation:
Centre for Space Human Robotics, IIT-Italian Institute of Technology, C.so Trento 21, 10129 Torino, Italy Dept. of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
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Abstract

An Investigation of the piezoresistive response of a metal-polymer composite based on nickel conductive filler in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) insulating matrix for tactile sensor application is presented in this paper. Lacking a mechanical deformation, the prepared composites show no electric conductivity, even though the metal particle content is well above the expected percolation threshold. In contrast, when subjected to uniaxial compression, the electric resistance is strongly reduced. A variation of up to nine orders of magnitude was registered. The thickness of the insulating layer between particles decreases when the sample composite is compressed. Therefore, the electric conduction which is related to a tunneling phenomena, increases exponentially. This behavior is further enhanced by the presence of very sharp nanometric spikes on the particles surface which act as field enhancement factors. In the presented work, the piezoresistive behavior of the composite, the stability in time of the resistance value and the response to several cycles of compression and decompression are evaluated on samples with different physical parameters like nickel content, PDMS copolymer/curing agent ratio and thickness.

Keywords

compositepiezoresponsesensor
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1299: Symposium S – Microelectromechanical Systems—Materials and Devices IV , 2011 , mrsf10-1299-s09-05
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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References

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