What is it about?
Strain gauges usually trade sensitivity against stretchability. We printed silver-nanoparticle serpentine structures on elastomeric polyurethane acrylate, where the serpentine radius controls how strain is relieved. Small-radius serpentines concentrate strain dramatically, achieving a record-high gauge factor of 10^7 at 12% strain — ultrasensitive crack-based strain gauges — while larger-radius versions act as stable stretchable conductors. One printing process, two device classes, selected purely by geometry.
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Why is it important?
A seven-order-of-magnitude gauge factor from printed silver means strain events that other sensors miss become clearly visible — enabling subtle pulse, vibration, and micro-motion detection in flexible and wearable formats, with nothing exotic beyond standard printing.
Perspectives
The lesson of this paper: conventional materials, judicious geometry. We did not invent a new ink; we taught an old pattern new sensitivity by choosing the radius carefully.
Professor Wei Li
Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Fully Printed Silver‐Nanoparticle‐Based Strain Gauges with Record High Sensitivity, Advanced Electronic Materials, May 2017, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1002/aelm.201700067.
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