One-step construction of flexible conductive-piezoelectric nanoresistance network material for pressure sensing and positioning

Traditional pressure sensors with localization functions are often performed through arrays of numerous sensors and dot-matrix electrodes. However, their application is limited because of the restrictions of miniaturization and flexibility as well as expensive multi-step preparations. Here we present a simple one-step method to establish the conductive-piezoelectric nanoresistance networks by preparing electrospun polyaniline/polyacrylonitrile (PANI/PAN) nanofibers (NFs). The nanoresistance networks constituted of PANI nanoscale conductive paths and PAN piezoelectric elements can be used as a new substitute material for sensors arrays and dot-matrix electrodes of traditional sensors for pressure sensing and localization based on the Wheatstone bridge principle. The performance of conductive-piezoelectric PANI/PAN integrated electrospun nanofibrous membrane (IENFM) for force sensing and positioning is appropriately explored and assessed. The IENFM shows high linear sensitivity of 1.71 V N−1 and low detectable pressure limit (0.1 N). Moreover, the maximum output voltage can be traced back to the position where pressure is exerted on the PANI/PAN IENFM by detecting output voltages distribution. Thus, our work opens a new sight for the application of the integrated sensing material for pressure localization.