Film Mo0.95Re0.05S2 as a strain-sensing element

•Film samples of Mo0.95Re0.05S2 were prepared from its colloidal dispersion.•The strain gauge factor was measured using the beam of uniform strength in bending.•The samples were examined for endurance with 0.12% oscillation strain amplitude.•The activation energies were estimated from resistance temperature characteristics.

The paper reports on the strain sensitivity of molybdenum–rhenium disulfide films and their resistance temperature characteristics. The polycrystalline sample of composition Mo0.95Re0.05S2 was synthesized by direct high temperature reaction of elements with stoichiometric ratio. Thin films were prepared using two methods – spray and vacuum filtration of colloidal dispersions of Mo0.95Re0.05S2. The strain gauge factors, of 12 and 20, respectively, were observed depending on the preparation method. The samples were examined for endurance and the strain gauge factors remained without significant degradation during 105 load cycles at least. In order to estimate effective activation energies the resistance temperature characteristics have been measured to be 150 meV for the samples sprayed and 200 meV for those filtered.