Highly Durable and Fast Response Fabric Strain Sensor for Movement Monitoring Under Extreme Conditions

The exploration of smart electronic textiles is a common goal to improve people’s quality of life.However,current smart e-textiles still face challenges such as being prone to failure under humid or cold conditions,lack of washing durability and chemical fragility.Herein,a multifunctional strain sensor with a negative resistance change was developed based on the excellent elasticity of knitted fabrics.A reduced graphene oxide(rGO)conductive fabric was first obtained by electrostatic self-assembly of chitosan(CS).Then a strain sensor was prepared using a dip-coating process to adsorb nanoscale silica dioxide and poly(dimethylsiloxane)(PDMS).A broad working range of 60%,a fast response time(22 ms)and stable cycling durability over 4000 cycles were simultaneously achieved using the prepared sensor.Furthermore,the sensor showed excel-lent superhydrophobicity,photothermal effects and UV protection,as graphene,silica and PDMS acted in synergy.This multifunctional sensor could be mounted on human joints to perform tasks,including activity monitoring,medical rehabili-tation evaluation and gesture recognition,due to its superior electromechanical capabilities.Based on its multiple superior properties,this sensor could be used as winter sportswear for athletes to track their actions without being impacted by water and as a warmer to ensure the wearer's comfort.

1D-2D nanohybrid-based textile strain sensor to boost multiscale deformative motion sensing performance

The development of strain sensors with both superior sensitivity(gauge factor(GF)>100)and broad strain-sensing range(>50%strain)is still a grand challenge.Materials,which demonstrate significant structural deformation under microscale motion,are required to offer high sensitivity.Structural connection of materials upon large-scale motion is demanded to widen strainsensing range.However,it is hard to achieve both features simultaneously.Herein,we design a crepe roll structure-inspired textile yarn-based strain sensor with one-dimensional(1D)-two-dimensional(2D)nanohybrid strain-sensing sheath,which possesses superior stretchability.This ultrastretchable strain sensor exhibits a wide and stable strain-sensing range from microscale to large-scale(0.01%–125%),and superior sensitivity(GF of 139.6 and 198.8 at 0.01%and 125%,respectively)simultaneously.The strain sensor is structurally constructed by a superelastic 1D-structured core elastomer polyurethane yarn(PUY),a novel high conductive crepe roll-structured(CRS)1D-2D nanohybrid multilayer sheath which assembled by 1D nanomaterials silver nanowires(AgNWs)working as bridges to connect adjacent layers and 2D nanomaterials graphene nanoplates(GNPs)offering brittle lamellar structure,and a thin polydopamine(PDA)wrapping layer providing protection in exterior environment.During the stretching/deformation process,microcracks originate and propagate in the GNPs lamellar structure enable resistance to change significantly,while AgNWs bridge adjacent GNPs to accommodate applied stress partially and boost strain.The 1D crepe roll structure-inspired strain sensor demonstrates multifunctionality in multiscale deformative motion detection,such as respiratory motions of Sprague–Dawleyw rat,flexible digital display,and proprioception of multi-joint finger bending and antagonistic flexion/extension motions of its flexible continuum body.