Advanced High-Performance Nanocomposites for Multifunctional Physical Sensors

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dc.contributor.advisorKim, Seonghwan
dc.contributor.authorRahman, Md Sazzadur
dc.contributor.committeememberEgberts, Philip
dc.contributor.committeememberWong, Joanna
dc.date2025-06
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-06T21:15:41Z
dc.date.available2025-01-06T21:15:41Z
dc.date.issued2024-12-23
dc.description.abstractComposite materials reinforced with nanometer-sized fillers are widely recognized for enhancing polymer properties and introducing multifunctional capabilities. Nanofiller reinforcement transforms conventional polymers into intelligent materials, offering potential for diverse applications, including electronics, sensors, biomedical devices, aerospace, and defense. This dissertation focuses on the development of soft and rigid nanocomposite materials for multimodal sensors designed for harsh environments and wearable technologies in healthcare and biomedical applications. The research commenced with the fabrication of polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide ceramics (SiOCPDC), reinforced with β-SiC nanopowders (SiCNP) using masked stereolithography (MSLA)-based 3D printing, followed by pyrolysis at 1100 °C. By optimizing SiCNP concentration, a gauge factor (GF) of 6129–8987 was achieved for pressures ranging from 0.5 to 5 MPa, surpassing the sensitivity of existing SiOC ceramics. This cost-effective method makes SiOCPDC a strong candidate for high-performance pressure/load sensing in extreme conditions. Next, a multifunctional hydrogel composed of polyacrylamide (AM) and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), reinforced with zeolite imidazolate frameworks-8 (ZIF-8), was developed. This hydrogel demonstrated excellent mechanical properties, including 808% stretchability, 453.5 kJ/m³ toughness, and minimal hysteresis (2.6%). With a gauge factor of 2.98, it is highly suitable for wearable strain sensing in health monitoring. Finally, a nanocomposite organohydrogel, based on a poly(acrylamide)-co-hydroxyethyl acrylate (PAAm-co-HEA) network reinforced with cobalt imidazole metal-organic framework (Co-MOF), was developed. The organohydrogel exhibited remarkable multifunctional properties, including high stretchability (2225%), toughness, self-adhesion, rapid self-healing, stability over a wide temperature range (-80 to 80 °C), and dual responsiveness for multimodal sensing. It demonstrated capacitive pressure sensitivity (0.75 kPa⁻¹) and thermosensitivity (1.10% °C⁻¹), making it suitable for gait analysis and temperature monitoring. Together, these nanocomposite materials demonstrated significant advancements in high-performance pressure sensing, flexible electronics, and wearable technologies. While the SiCNP reinforced SiOCPDC nanocomposite was utilized for high-performance pressure sensing in extreme conditions, the multifunctional nanocomposite hydrogel and organohydrogel offer robust solutions for wearable sensing systems, providing promising applications in healthcare, biomedical devices, and environmental monitoring.
dc.identifier.citationRahman, M. S. (2024). Advanced high-performance nanocomposites for multifunctional physical sensors (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/120329
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgary
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectNanocomposites
dc.subjectPolymer-derived Ceramics
dc.subjectHydrogel
dc.subjectMetal Organic Framework
dc.subjectOrganohydrogel
dc.subjectPressure Sensor
dc.subjectStrain Sensor
dc.subjectWearable Electronics
dc.subjectHealth Monitoring
dc.subject.classificationEngineering--Mechanical
dc.subject.classificationMaterials Science
dc.titleAdvanced High-Performance Nanocomposites for Multifunctional Physical Sensors
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineering – Mechanical & Manufacturing
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudentI require a thesis withhold – I need to delay the release of my thesis due to a patent application, and other reasons outlined in the link above. I have/will need to submit a thesis withhold application.
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