The effects of CNT type, alignment and dopants on piezoresistance in CNT fibres

Carbon nanotube fibres (CNTF) are piezoresistive, hence heralded as deformation sensors in applications ranging from flexible touch sensors to artificial skins and robotics. This work studies the piezoresistive behaviour of a wide range of CNT fibres from different sources, processing routes and microstructures. It provides a unifying view of the factors controlling piezoresistance in CNT fibres and related nanocarbon networks. We clarify the role of alignment and concentration of dopants and the constituent CNT type, demonstrating that the origin of piezoresistance in aligned fibres is the direct deformation of the constituent nanotubes, therefore, it is governed by the bulk modulus and thus the degree of CNT alignment. Doping through intercalation, which does not affect modulus or CNT separation, is detrimental to piezoresistive sensing, reducing the gauge factor proportionally to its decrease in resistivity. Aligned fibres show a quasi-linear piezoresistive response, with a positive change in resistance for all deformation modes applied: axial tension, axial or transverse compression. The axial gauge factor is shown to be proportional to fibre Young's modulus, with values of 2–9 for fibres spun from aerogels and above 30 for undoped fibres spun from liquid crystal solutions, respectively. Piezoresistance is attributed to the formation of internal barriers for conduction between metallic regions, which arise from the heterogeneous stress distribution along individual CNTs inherent in shear lag-type stress transfer. Commercial multifilament CNT yarns with a high degree of alignment and a format amenable for integration in large structures have demonstrated the piezoresistive gauge factors of 4 and sufficient sensitivity at strains below 1 % suitable for structural health monitoring of engineering structural composites.