"Green" Flexible Electronics: Biodegradable and Mechanically Strong Soy Protein-Based Nanocomposite Films for Human...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Soy protein isolate (SPI) shows potential for green flexible electronics.
• Current SPI-based materials face challenges in achieving simultaneous conductivity, mechanical robustness, and motion-sensing capabilities for wearable applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multifunctional, biodegradable SPI-based nanocomposite film for wearable strain sensors.
• To enhance the properties of SPI by incorporating surface-hydroxylated barium titanate nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of SPI-based nanocomposite films by embedding surface-hydroxylated barium titanate (HBT) nanoparticles into a biodegradable SPI substrate.
• Characterization of the nanocomposite films' mechanical, electrical, thermal, and degradation properties.
• Fabrication and testing of wearable sensors using the optimized SPI-HBT0.5-GL0.5 film for human motion monitoring.

Main Results:

• The SPI-HBT0.5-GL0.5 film exhibited excellent toughness, tensile strength, conductivity, translucence, recyclability, and thermal stability.
• The developed film demonstrated facile degradation in phosphate-buffered saline solution, indicating environmental friendliness.
• Wearable sensors fabricated from this material showed excellent biocompatibility and accurately monitored human joint motions, enduring over 10,000 cycles.

Conclusions:

• The developed SPI-based nanocomposite film is a promising biobased material for multifunctional wearable electronics.
• The material addresses key challenges in creating sustainable and high-performance flexible sensors for human motion monitoring.