Design and optimization of carbon nanotube based nanocomposites

Conductive nanocomposite materials for sensing applications are developed. The fabrication process proposed in this thesis allows for development of nanocomposite structures with SU-8/MWCNT that can be patterned using typical lithography techniques for fine features. In order to demonstrate the principle, different SU-8 structures were impregnated with carbon nanotubes and studied. It was observed that filler concentration strongly affected the response of the fabricated nanocomposite structures to strain with measured gauge factors ranging from 1 to more than 25. A simulator is developed to estimate the electrical conductivity of polymer/nanotube composite layers as well as the change in their resistances under strain. Experimental results agree with the performance trend that is predicted by the simulator as filler concentration and applied strains were varied independently. Our nanocomposite materials will be used for the design and fabrication of low-cost, all-polymer microsystems with embedded sensors and actuators.