Silicone-enhanced polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels for high performance wearable strain sensors

Hao Zhang; Ludan Qin; Yanru Chen; Teng Long; Ruifang Guan; Xiao Cheng; Bin Chen; Chuanjian Zhou

Materials & Design (May 2023)

Silicone-enhanced polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels for high performance wearable strain sensors

Hao Zhang,
Ludan Qin,
Yanru Chen,
Teng Long,
Ruifang Guan,
Xiao Cheng,
Bin Chen,
Chuanjian Zhou

Affiliations

Hao Zhang: Research Institute of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
Ludan Qin: Department of Prosthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University & Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration & Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Jinan 250012, China
Yanru Chen: Research Institute of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
Teng Long: Research Institute of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
Ruifang Guan: School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong 250022, China
Xiao Cheng: Research Institute of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China; Corresponding authors.
Bin Chen: Department of Orthopaedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; Corresponding authors.
Chuanjian Zhou: Research Institute of Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China; Corresponding authors.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 229
p. 111911

Abstract

Read online

Flexible wearable strain sensors based on hydrogels have become a research hotspot in recent years due to their advanced application in many fields. Currently, most hydrogel-based strain sensors exhibit poor mechanical properties and low sensitivity. In this work, a conductive hydrogel as a wearable strain sensor was developed based on dual crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) networks. The PVA was the main skeleton of the hydrogel and the water-soluble amino-polysiloxane (APSi) introduced into this hydrogel was the secondary network. The APSi and PVA were locked together by phytic acid (PA), which improved the microstructure and enhanced the mechanical properties of the hydrogel. This was mainly reflected in the higher tensile strength (1.27 MPa), elongation at break (425.5%), electrical conductivity (0.975 S/m), linearity (R2 = 0.999) and tensile strain sensitivity (gauge factor (GF) of 2.29). The tensile strength (0.166–1.270 MPa) and elongation (170.2–425.5%) of the hydrogel can be regulated continuously by adjusting the amount of APSi. These silicone-enhanced PVA hydrogels have good biocompatibility and hence can be used as wearable strain sensors.

Published in Materials & Design

ISSN: 0264-1275 (Print); 1873-4197 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/materials-and-design

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords