{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,16]],"date-time":"2026-05-16T11:35:14Z","timestamp":1778931314903,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"24","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,5]],"date-time":"2023-12-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1701734400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Postgraduate Research &amp; Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province","award":["KYCX22_3291"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["KYCX22_3291"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Intelligent monitoring approaches for long-term, real-time digitalization in structural health monitoring (SHM) are currently attracting significant interest. Among these, self-sensing cementitious composites stand out due to their easy preparation, cost-effectiveness, and excellent compatibility with concrete structures. However, the current research faces challenges, such as excessive conductive filler, difficulties in filler dispersion, and insufficient stress sensitivity and instability. This study presents a novel approach to these challenges by fabricating self-sensing cementitious sensors using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), a new type of conductive filler. The percolation threshold of AgNPs in these materials was determined to be 0.0066 wt%, marking a reduction of approximately 90% compared to traditional conductive fillers. Moreover, the absorbance test with a UV spectrophotometer showed that AgNPs were well dispersed in an aqueous solution, which is beneficial for the construction of conductive pathways. Through various cyclic loading tests, it was observed that the self-sensing cementitious sensors with AgNPs exhibited robust pressure-sensitive stability. Additionally, their stress sensitivity reached 11.736, a value significantly surpassing that of conventional fillers. Regarding the conductive mechanism, when encountering the intricate environment within the cementitious material, AgNPs can establish numerous conductive pathways, ensuring a stable response to stress due to their ample quantity. This study provides a significant contribution to addressing the existing challenges in self-sensing cementitious materials and offers a novel reference for further research in this domain.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s23249629","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,5]],"date-time":"2023-12-05T02:55:32Z","timestamp":1701744932000},"page":"9629","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Pressure-Sensitive Capability of AgNPs Self-Sensing Cementitious Sensors"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"given":"Haoran","family":"Zhu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Civil Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215011, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Min","family":"Sun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Civil Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215011, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2019.01.081","article-title":"Piezoresistive properties of cement-based sensors: Review and perspective","volume":"203","author":"Dong","year":"2019","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Umar, T., Yousaf, M., Akbar, M., Abbas, N., Hussain, Z., and Ansari, W.S. (2022). An experimental study on non-destructive evaluation of the mechanical characteristics of a sustainable concrete incorporating industrial waste. Materials, 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma15207346"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5801","DOI":"10.1016\/j.matpr.2021.02.722","article-title":"Self-sensing cement-based sensor with carbon nanotube: Fabrication and properties\u2014A review","volume":"46","author":"Dinesh","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mater. Today Proc."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.1016\/j.carbon.2022.11.076","article-title":"A critical review of electrical-resistance-based self-sensing in conductive cement-based materials","volume":"203","author":"Chung","year":"2023","journal-title":"Carbon"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104343","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jobe.2022.104343","article-title":"Electro-mechanical investigations of steel fiber reinforced self-sensing cement composite and their implications for real-time structural health monitoring","volume":"51","author":"Dinesh","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Build. Eng."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101438","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nantod.2022.101438","article-title":"In-situ synthesizing carbon nanotubes on cement to develop self-sensing cementitious composites for smart high-speed rail infrastructures","volume":"43","author":"Ding","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nano Today"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129488","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2022.129488","article-title":"Effects of graphene nanoplatelets type on self-sensing properties of cement mortar composites","volume":"359","author":"Sevim","year":"2022","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120871","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2020.120871","article-title":"An experimental study of self-sensing concrete enhanced with multi-wall carbon nanotubes in wedge splitting test and DIC","volume":"262","author":"Suchorzewski","year":"2020","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133080","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2023.133080","article-title":"Application of self-sensing cement-stabilized sand for damage detection","volume":"403","author":"Abedi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1007\/s13349-010-0001-5","article-title":"Sensing properties of CNT-filled cement-based stress sensors","volume":"1","author":"Han","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Civ. Struct. Health Monit."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Xu, F., Zhou, J., Chang, R., Zhang, D., Wang, H., and Tian, X. (2023). The Mechanical and Self-Sensing Performance of Reactive Powder Cement Concrete with Nano-Stainless Steel Powder. Coatings, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/coatings13071153"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bekzhanova, Z., Memon, S.A., and Kim, J.R. (2021). Self-Sensing Cementitious Composites: Review and Perspective. Nanomaterials, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/nano11092355"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2667","DOI":"10.1007\/s10853-021-06732-1","article-title":"Smart self-sensing concrete: The use of multiscale carbon fillers","volume":"57","author":"Taheri","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Mater. Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Li, W., Dong, W., Castel, A., and Sheng, D. (2021). Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, Royal Society of New South Wales."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compositesa.2017.05.018","article-title":"Electrical conductivity and piezo-resistive characteristics of CNT and CNF incorporated cementitious nanocomposites under static and dynamic loading","volume":"100","author":"Sasmal","year":"2017","journal-title":"Compos. Part A Appl. Sci. Manuf."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"750","DOI":"10.1016\/j.measurement.2018.11.024","article-title":"Effects of carbon nanomaterial type and amount on self-sensing capacity of cement paste","volume":"134","author":"Yoo","year":"2019","journal-title":"Measurement"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104001","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cemconcomp.2021.104001","article-title":"Research on the self-sensing and mechanical properties of aligned stainless steel fiber-reinforced reactive powder concrete","volume":"119","author":"Wang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Cem. Concr. Compos."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"793","DOI":"10.1002\/suco.202000337","article-title":"Structural health monitoring methods, dispersion of fibers, micro and macro structural properties, sensing, and mechanical properties of self-sensing concrete\u2014A review","volume":"22","author":"Reddy","year":"2021","journal-title":"Struct. Concr."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/19648189.2023.2194939","article-title":"Real-time implication of hybrid carbonaceous fibre and powder integrated self-sensing cement composite in health monitoring of beams and columns","volume":"27","author":"Dinesh","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur. J. Environ. Civ. Eng."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106836","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jobe.2023.106836","article-title":"Commercial and recycled carbon-based fillers and fibers for self-sensing cement-based composites: Comparison of mechanical strength, durability, and piezoresistive behavior","volume":"73","author":"Belli","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Build. Eng."},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"1","article-title":"Recent advances in synthetic methods and applications of silver nanostructures","volume":"13","author":"Zhang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nanoscale Res. Lett."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2101610","DOI":"10.1002\/adom.202101610","article-title":"4D Printing of Plasmon-Encoded Tunable Polydimethylsiloxane Lenses for On-Field Microscopy of Microbes","volume":"10","author":"Mariani","year":"2022","journal-title":"Adv. Opt. Mater."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, H., Ding, G., and Yang, Z. (2019). A High Sensitive Flexible Pressure Sensor Designed by Silver Nanowires Embedded in Polyimide (AgNW-PI). Micromachines, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/mi10030206"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"425","DOI":"10.1039\/D1NH00648G","article-title":"In situ controlled and conformal coating of polydimethylsiloxane foams with silver nanoparticle networks with tunable piezo-resistive properties","volume":"7","author":"Paghi","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nanoscale Horiz."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"(2021). State Administration for Market Regulation, Test Method of Cement Mortar Strength (ISO Method) (Standard No. GB\/T 17671-2021). (In Chinese)."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"360","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sna.2006.08.003","article-title":"Electrode design, measuring method and data acquisition system of carbon fiber cement paste piezoresistive sensors","volume":"135","author":"Han","year":"2007","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators A Phys."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Hong, L. (2006). Study on the Smart Properties of the Graphite Slurry Infiltrated Steel Fiber Concrete (GSIFCON). [Ph.D. Thesis, Dalian University of Technology]."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"536","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sna.2008.06.021","article-title":"Development of a wireless stress\/strain measurement system integrated with pressure-sensitive nickel powder-filled cement-based sensors","volume":"147","author":"Han","year":"2008","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators A Phys."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1104","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cemconcomp.2012.07.008","article-title":"Dispersion of carbon nanotubes and its influence on the mechanical properties of the cement matrix","volume":"34","author":"Sobolkina","year":"2012","journal-title":"Cem. Concr. Compos."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125262","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2021.125262","article-title":"Surface-treated carbon nanotubes in cement composites: Dispersion, mechanical properties and microstructure","volume":"310","author":"Li","year":"2021","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129049","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2022.129049","article-title":"Electrical impedance behaviour of carbon fibre reinforced cement-based sensors at different moisture contents","volume":"353","author":"Zhang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Guo, R., Suo, Y., Xia, H., Yang, Y., Ma, Q., and Yan, F. (2021). Study of piezoresistive behavior of smart cement filled with graphene oxide. Nanomaterials, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/nano11010206"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110","DOI":"10.1016\/j.measurement.2014.09.048","article-title":"Intrinsic self-sensing concrete and structures: A review","volume":"59","author":"Han","year":"2015","journal-title":"Measurement"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"953","DOI":"10.1063\/1.352350","article-title":"Resistivities of conductive composites","volume":"72","author":"Ruschau","year":"1992","journal-title":"J. Appl. Phys."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"128127","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2022.128127","article-title":"Piezoresistivity and mechanical properties of self-sensing CNT cementitious nanocomposites: Optimizing the effects of CNT dispersion and surfactants","volume":"349","author":"Mardani","year":"2022","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104775","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jobe.2022.104775","article-title":"Study on self-sensing capabilities of smart cements filled with graphene oxide under dynamic cyclic loading","volume":"58","author":"Suo","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Build. Eng."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105005","DOI":"10.1088\/0964-1726\/25\/10\/105005","article-title":"Electrical percolation threshold of cementitious composites possessing self-sensing functionality incorporating different carbon-based materials","volume":"25","author":"Sarwary","year":"2016","journal-title":"Smart Mater. Struct."},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"Luo, J. (2009). Fabrication and Functional Properties of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube\/Cement Composites. [Ph.D. Thesis, Harbin Institute of Technology]."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compositesa.2017.07.019","article-title":"A critical review on research progress of graphene\/cement based composites","volume":"102","author":"Yang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Compos. Part A Appl. Sci. Manuf."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cemconcomp.2013.11.009","article-title":"Strain and damage sensing properties on multifunctional cement composites with CNF admixture","volume":"46","author":"Galao","year":"2014","journal-title":"Cem. Concr. Compos."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"323","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eurpolymj.2003.10.011","article-title":"The influence of particle shape and size on electric conductivity of metal\u2013polymer composites","volume":"40","author":"Xue","year":"2004","journal-title":"Eur. Polym. J."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1085","DOI":"10.1016\/j.matdes.2013.05.010","article-title":"Effect of aspect ratio on strain sensing capacity of carbon fiber reinforced cement composites","volume":"51","author":"Baeza","year":"2013","journal-title":"Mater. Des."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"314","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2017.01.006","article-title":"Nano graphite platelets-enabled piezoresistive cementitious composites for structural health monitoring","volume":"136","author":"Sun","year":"2017","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."}],"container-title":["Sensors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/23\/24\/9629\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T21:38:08Z","timestamp":1760132288000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/23\/24\/9629"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,5]]},"references-count":43,"journal-issue":{"issue":"24","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,12]]}},"alternative-id":["s23249629"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/s23249629","relation":{},"ISSN":["1424-8220"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1424-8220","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,5]]}}}