Bacterial Cellulose/Titanate Nanotubes Composite Kirigami for Flexible and Stretchable Motion Sensor

Abstract

A composite of bacterial cellulose and titanate nanotubes (BC/TNT) was prepared for use as a stretchable motion sensor in smart and wearable electronics. The composite was characterized using various techniques such as UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy, SEM, XRD, IR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. It was found that the dielectric constant of BC/TNT was up to 2.6 times that of BC with similar loss tangent, indicating improved charge storage. The composite was also constructed into a Kirigami pattern for improved stretchability. With a tensile strain of 0.4%, the change in resistance relative to the original resistance (ΔR/R₀) was found to be 5.7% and 6.9% for BC and BC/TNT, respectively, demonstrating improved sensing performance.

Keywords:

• Wearable electronics
• flexible sensor
• bacterial cellulose
• titanate nanotubes
• Kirigami

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) under Grant No. KREF116501. Kanokwan Chaithaweep’s work was financially supported by the School of Science, KMITL under Grant No. RA/TA 2565-M-002. We acknowledge the facilities and technical assistance provided by the Nanotechnology and Materials Analytical Instrument Service Unit (NMIS) at the College of Materials Innovation and Technology, KMITL.