Fabrication of TPU-Supported Au-Bi2S3/Ti3C2Tx electrospun mat: Towards flexible and Multi-functional sensors for human motion and NH3 detection at room temperature

Abstract

The potential applications of wearable sensors in health monitoring, micro-environment detection, and advanced soft electronic noses have attracted widespread attention. However, due to the inherent limitations of traditional organic flexible substrates, simultaneously achieving excellent flexibility, high sensitivity, robustness, and breathability remains a significant challenge. Herein, using the electrospinning method, a flexible TPU substrate film was prepared, and Bi2S3/Ti3C2Tx nanocomposite materials were synthesized through a simple one-step hydrothermal method. Au nanoparticles were attached to the surface of the composite material using sodium borohydride, and finally, the surface impregnation method was used to successfully prepare the Au-Bi2S3/Ti3C2Tx-TPU flexible electrospun mat. The as-prepared sensor demonstrated an outstanding response of 154 % to 100 ppm NH3 at room temperature, coupled with high selectivity, repeatability, and long-term stability. The strain properties of the sensor were also evaluated, showcasing its potential for human motion and physiological feature detection, such as breathing, swallowing, and limb movements. The study’s findings indicated that the Au-Bi2S3/Ti3C2Tx-TPU electrospun mat sensor has promising applications in flexible electronics, wearable environmental monitoring devices, and human healthy monitoring.

Keywords

• Flexible
• Motion detection
• Ti3C2Tx MXene
• Bi2S3
• Multi-functional Sensors