Highly stretchable, healable, sensitive double-network conductive hydrogel for wearable sensor. (21st December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zheng, Wenhui; Li, Yangyang; Xu, Lijuan; Huang, Yudong; Jiang, Zaixing; Li, Bing
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 211(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12-21
• Subjects: Strain sensor -- Poly (vinyl alcohol) -- (±)-α-Thioctic acid -- Stretchable -- Double-network hydrogel; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2020.123095
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: Hydrogel-based strain sensor with the stretchable, self-healable and wearable properties has made great contributions in the field of modern electronics. However, currently, ultra-high stretchability and strain sensitivity are required to satisfy the practical applications for polyvinyl alcohol-borate (PVA-Borax) hydrogel-based strain sensor. Herein, we fabricated a new highly stretchable hydrogel strain sensor based on PVA-Borax and (±)-α-Thioctic acid-iron (III) (TA-Fe 3+ ) double-network hydrogel matrix and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The strain sensors displayed an extremely wide strain-sensing range (≈1350% fracture strain) with a gauge factor of 11.50 and showed rapid recovery of electrical properties in the cut-healing cycles (<4s). Compared with previous PVA-Borax based strain sensors materials, the new double-network hydrogel strain sensors achieved more favorable functionalities in human motion monitoring, which can satisfy versatile application requirements ranging from extremely stretchable, wearable, self-healable electronic devices to future soft robot. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: The strain sensor displayed an extremely wide strain-sensing range (≈1350% fracture strain) with a gauge factor of 11.50. Dramatically, the strain sensor exhibits rapid recovery of electrical properties without external stimulation at room temperature, and the electrical healing average efficiency was 93 ± 0.7% in 4s. The CNTs nanocomposite hydrogel can act as a wearable strain sensor to monitor finger joint motions, wrist bending and leg bending.