CNTs-based wearable sensors for environmental humidity and temperature detection

This work deals with the behavior of a conductive carbon nanotubes-based cotton fabric, developed and proposed, as an environmental humidity and temperature sensitive element in wearable sensors. In this regard, a synthetic strategy based on the dispersion of carboxylated Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (c-MWCNTs) was employed together with subsequent knife-over-roll coating technique for the application of such CNTs-based conductive coating. Different chemical-physical characterization techniques have allowed to investigate the chemical composition, thermal behavior and surface morphology of the so obtained coated textiles. Sensing tests demonstrate the electrical resistance properties and sensitiveness of the CNTs-coating toward environmental humidity and temperature. The sensing features make these CNTs-coated textiles interesting as a potential component for future applications in the fields of flexible wearable electronics.