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Reactive & Functional Polymers, Vol.76, 57-62, 2014
A new polystyrene-based ionomer/MWCNT nanocomposite for wearable skin temperature sensors
The present work outlines the fabrication and testing of a novel skin temperature sensor based on exfoliated and undamaged multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) dispersed in a poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) derivative with triethylamine (PVBC_Et3N). The dispersions were prepared by sonicating MWCNT/PVBC_Et3N mixtures in dimethylformamide for 5 min and the quantification of the MWCNTs dispersed was evaluated by UV-vis spectroscopy investigations and thermogravimetric analyses. The investigations demonstrated the realization of MWCNT/PVBC_Et3N sensors with a resistance sensitivity to temperature close to -0.004 K-1, an absolute value that is comparable to the highest values found in metals. The temperature dependence of the resistance was also found very reproducible in the range 20-40 degrees C, thus suggesting the possibility of using the MWCNT/PVBC_Et3N system for the fabrication of small wearable temperature sensors for the monitoring of chronic wounds. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords:MWCNTs;Poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) ionomers;MWCNT dispersion;Electrically conducting nanocomposite;Wearable temperature sensor