Flexible electrically conductive films based on biocompatible composite material

Biocompatible composite materials based on carbon nanotubes contained in the matrix exhibit strain-resistive properties under deformation. The possibility of their use as a prototype of a tactile sensor was investigated. The layers in the matrix of microcrystalline cellulose and the filler of multi-walled carbon nanotubes served as a tactile sensitive element. Aqueous suspension of the composite material was applied on a substrate (thickness 30 micrometers) made of polyethylene with subsequent exposure of the sample to laser radiation. It is shown that the tactile sensitive element based on thin layers of composite (thickness $\le$ 1 micrometers) exhibits the properties of a bipolar strain sensor, and thick layers (thickness $\ge$ 10 micrometers) exhibit the properties of a unipolar strain sensor. It is found that tensoresistive measurements allow to fix the pressure $\sim$ 0.2–20 Pa, which corresponds to the order of tactile sensitivity of human fingers. The prospect of using the obtained results in flexible electronics or for creation of T-sensors and electronic skin (e-skin) is considered.