Graphite-Based Bioinspired Piezoresistive Soft Strain Sensors with Performance Optimized for Low Strain Values

This paper presents the custom-made graphite-based piezoresistive strain sensor with gecko foot-inspired macroscopic features realized using a Velcro tape on Ecoflex substrate. The Velcro-based design provides an inexpensive and easy approach for the development of soft sensors with appreciable improvement in the performance even at low strain values. The sensor demonstrated excellent response (sensitivity of ∼16 500%, gauge factor of ∼3800) for 24% linear strain. The fabricated device showed a high gauge factor (>100) even for very low strain values. The sensor has been extensively characterized with a view to potentially use in soft robotics applications where high performance is needed at lower strain values. It is observed that the piezoresistive behavior of strain sensors is governed by several factors such as the supporting elastic medium, architecture of the strain sensor, material properties, strain rate and deformation sequence, and direction.