Characterization of k-Carrageenan and Iron (III) Oxide Based Piezoresistive Film by Microrobotic System

Abstract

This paper represents continued development and investigation of a piezoresistive sensor based on k-carrageenan and iron (III) oxide with natural moieties of algae containing cellulose. Because of the cheapness of raw material, k-carrageenan-based sensors can be used as disposable without any sufficient harm to the environment. Iron (III) oxide, k-carrageenan, and cellulose exhibit complex charge transfer. The promising green electronics biopolymer-based hydrogel film requires careful study, since the structure of natural biopolymers extracted from plants and algae depends on environmental condition, the changes of the molecular structure resulting data scatter. This composition can work as a piezoresistive strain sensor, a pressure sensor, with wide application, for example, in automated storage with the additional property to record humidity changes. We represent the investigation how this sensor can be applied for external pressure events. Experimental results demonstrate typical hydrogel behavior. The distribution of measured resistance values on applied force shows map of electrical activity of film. The potential values differences resulted by contacting to sensor film by a nonconductive rod. The contact point selection programed by the scanning system, with control of distance and applied force to the surface.