Self-Healable PEDOT:PSS-PVA Nanocomposite Hydrogel Strain Sensor for Human Motion Monitoring
Jie Cao,
Zhilin Zhang,
Kaiyun Li,
Cha Ma,
Weiqiang Zhou,
Tao Lin,
Jingkun Xu,
Ximei Liu
Affiliations
Jie Cao
Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics, Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330013, China
Zhilin Zhang
Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics, Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330013, China
Kaiyun Li
Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics, Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330013, China
Cha Ma
Key Laboratory of Organic Chemistry in Jiangxi Province, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330013, China
Weiqiang Zhou
Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics, Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330013, China
Tao Lin
Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao 266035, China
Jingkun Xu
Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics, Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330013, China
Ximei Liu
Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics, Flexible Electronics Innovation Institute, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330013, China
Strain sensors based on conducting polymer hydrogels are considered highly promising candidates for wearable electronic devices. However, existing conducting polymer hydrogels are susceptible to aging, damage, and failure, which can greatly deteriorate the sensing performance of strain sensors based on these substances and the accuracy of data collection under large deformation. Developing conductive polymer hydrogels with concurrent high sensing performance and self-healing capability is a critical yet challenging task to improve the stability and lifetime of strain sensors. Herein, we design a self-healable conducting polymer hydrogel by compositing poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) nanofibers and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) via both physical and chemical crosslinking. This PEDOT:PSS-PVA nanocomposite hydrogel strain sensor displays an excellent strain monitoring range (>200%), low hysteresis (83.5%). Electronic skins based on such hydrogel strain sensors can perform the accurate monitoring of various physiological signals, including swallowing, finger bending, and knee bending. This work presents a novel conducting polymer hydrogel strain sensor demonstrating both high sensing performance and self-healability, which can satisfy broad application scenarios, such as wearable electronics, health monitoring, etc.
