Strain and pressure gauges from tough, conducting and edible hydrogels

Authors

Alexander Keller, University of WollongongFollow
Dominik Benz, University of WollongongFollow
Marc in het Panhuis, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

109572

Publication Details

Keller, A., Benz, D. & in het Panhuis, M. (2015). Strain and pressure gauges from tough, conducting and edible hydrogels. MRS Online Proceedings, 1795 27-32.

Abstract

The development of highly conductive, robust edible hydrogels was investigated using a combination of the biopolymers gellan gum and gelatin, a common salt (NaCl) and plant-derived cross-linker (genipin). Robust strain gauge/pressure sensors were developed using edible materials to demonstrate the potential of these hydrogels. The hydrogels exhibited gauge factor and pressure sensitivity values of 7.6 ± 0.1 and 400 ± 7 μΩ/Pa for loads up to 3 kPa, respectively. Furthermore, these devices were able to operate under larger loads with gauge factor and pressure sensitivity values of 0.308 ± 0.002 and 7.17 ± 0.05 μΩ/Pa, respectively, for loads between 9 kPa and 280 kPa.