Poisson effect enhances compression force sensing with oxidized carbon nanotube network/polyurethane sensor

Poisson effect when a sensor made of multi-walled carbon nanotube network embedded in the elastic polyurethane was compressed in one direction and expanded in the other two directions perpendicular to the direction of compression several fold enhanced the sensing owing to nano-sized cracks of the network. The composite sensitivity was further multiplicatively enhanced by KMnO4 oxidation of carbon nanotubes. As an example of the composite use as a compression sensor, a pressure on the shoe sole was monitored as well as a ball bullet impact on the sensor.