Polycarbonate films metalized with a single component molecular conductor suited to strain and stress sensing applications

The paper reports all-organic strain and stress sensitive films that use electrical monitoring approach. The films were prepared by self-metallizing polycarbonate films with the single component molecular conductor [Au(α-tpdt)2]0 (tpdt = 2,3-thiophenedithiolate). It was shown that [Au(α-tpdt)2]0 by its nature is able to form metallic solid material with low crystallinity. Electromechanical tests demonstrated that the developed films are strain-resistive materials with advanced elastic properties: their electrical resistance varies linearly with uniaxial elongation up to relative strain being of 1.0% that is about five times larger than that for conventional metals. The gauge factor of the films is 4.4 and stress sensitivity is 30 Ω/bar. The processing characteristics of polycarbonate films, self-metalized with a metallic [Au(α-tpdt) 2]0-based layer, make them potentially useful for engineering flexible, lightweight, strain and pressure sensors. Due to electromechanical characteristics these films are suited to strain sensing applications requiring miniature strain control in a wide deformation range. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.