Highly Sensitive and Fast Responding Flexible Force Sensors Using ZnO/ZnMgO Coaxial Nanotubes on Graphene Layers for Breath Sensing

초록

The authors report the fabrication of highly sensitive, rapidly responding flexible force sensors using ZnO/ZnMgO coaxial nanotubes grown on graphene layers and their applications in sleep apnea monitoring. Flexible force sensors are fabricated by forming Schottky contacts to the nanotube array, followed by the mechanical release of the entire structure from the host substrate. The electrical characteristics of ZnO and ZnO/ZnMgO nanotube-based sensors are thoroughly investigated and compared. Importantly, in force sensor applications, the ZnO/ZnMgO coaxial structure results in significantly higher sensitivity and a faster response time when compared to the bare ZnO nanotube. The origin of the improved performance is thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, wireless breath sensing is demonstrated using the ZnO/ZnMgO pressure sensors with custom electronics, demonstrating the feasibility of the sensor technology for health monitoring and the potential diagnosis of sleep apnea. The authors report the fabrication of highly sensitive, fast-response flexible force sensors using ZnO/ZnMgO coaxial nanotubes on graphene layers. The sensors leverage piezoelectric responses of the material and exhibit significantly improved performance over bare ZnO nanotube-based sensors. The applications for wireless breath sensing are also demonstrated, showcasing the potential in healthcare applications including diagnosing sleep apnea. image

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