A wide-linear-range and low-hysteresis resistive strain sensor made of double-threaded conductive yarn for human movement detection

Yarn-based flexible strain sensors with advantages in wearability and integrability have attracted wide at-tention.However,it is still a big challenge to achieve yarn-based strain sensors with a wide linear strain range,low hysteresis,and durability synchronously that can be used for full range detection of human body motions.Herein,a new structure,double-threaded conductive yarn with rhythmic strain distribu-tion,is reported to markedly widen the linear strain range of microcrack-based stretchable strain sensors.A new method of winding and thermally adhering hot-melt filaments on the surface of the elastic fiber is used to achieve double-threaded yarn(DTY)with rhythmic strain distribution.The proposed strategy,the integration of heterogeneous materials,is reported to significantly reduce the mechanical hysteresis of composite yarns.Rhythmic strain distribution of the DTY during stretching causes multi-level micro-cracks in different regions of the carbon nanotube(CNT)conductive layer deposited on the surface of the DTY.Besides,the sensing performance of DTY-based strain sensor can be adjusted by designing the structural parameters.The final prepared flexible strain sensor has the advantages of a wide linear strain range(100%),great sensitivity(GF=12.43),low hysteresis,rapid response(158 ms),high repeatability(>2000 cycles at 50%strain),and hydrophobicity,etc.The sensor can monitor human motion repeatedly and stably well,and shows great advantages in flexible wearable devices.