CARBON NANOTUBE-BASED SENSOR AND METHOD FOR CONTINUALLY SENSING CHANGES IN A STRUCTURE

摘要

A sensor (10) has a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based conductors (30) operatively positioned on a substrate (12). The conductors are arranged side-by-side, such as in a substantially parallel relationship to one another. At least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes (20, 22) is coupled to opposing ends of the conductors. A portion of each of the conductors spanning between each pair of electrodes comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes (32) arranged end-to-end and substantially aligned along an axis (32A). Because a direct correlation exists between resistance of a carbon nanotube and carbon nanotube strain, changes experienced by the portion of the structure to which the sensor is coupled induce a change in electrical properties of the conductors.