A highly sensitive piezoresistive sensor based on MXene and polyvinyl butyral with a wide detection limit and low power consumption

As a new class of two-dimensional transition-metal carbide and carbonitride, MXene have been widely used in the energy storage, sensor, catalysis, electromagnetic interference shielding and other field. It is a challenge to simultaneously realize a sensor of extremely high sensitivity, wide detection limits, low power consumption and good mechanical stability. In this work, taking advantage of high conductivity of MXene and porous structure of polyvinyl butyral, a highly sensitive piezoresistive sensor was fabricated. The fabricated MXene/PVB-based sensor exhibits highly sensitive reliably with a factor of ~11.9 kPa^-1, ~1.15 kPa^-1 and ~0.20 kPa^-1 in the ranges of 31.2 Pa-312 Pa, 312 Pa- 62.4 kPa and 62.4 kPa-1248.4 kPa, respectively. The sensor has a wide detection range (~31.2 Pa to ~2.205 MPa), low detection limit (6.8 Pa), low detection voltage (0.1 mV), low power consumption (~3.6 * 10^-10 W), fast response time ( ~110 ms), as well as good mechanical stability (over 10,000 maximum-pressure cycles). Moreover, it is demonstrated that the sensor can detect subtle bending and release activities of human, including arterial pulses and voice signal, which is potentially suitable as a wide detection range, highly sensitive and low power consumption piezoresistive sensor. This work provides a new avenue to expand the application of MXene-based flexible pressure sensor in the field of wide sensing range and ultra-low power consumption.