A High-Performance, Sensitive, Wearable Multifunctional Sensor Based on Rubber/CNT for Human Motion and Skin...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Wearable Electronics

Background:

• Flexible wearable electronics are crucial for healthcare and motion detection.
• Existing wearable sensors face limitations in stretchability, sensitivity, strength, conductivity, and functionality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate a multi-functional sensor with enhanced properties.
• To overcome the limitations of current wearable sensor technologies.

Main Methods:

• A hydrogen bond cross-linked network was created using carboxylic styrene butadiene rubber (XSBR) and hydrophilic sericin (SS).
• Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were non-covalently modified and integrated into the network.
• The material was fabricated into versatile sensors for deformation and thermal detection.

Main Results:

• The sensors exhibit high stretchability (217%), superior strength (12.58 MPa), and high sensitivity (gauge factor 25.98).
• Achieved low detection limit (1% strain), high conductivity (0.071 S m⁻¹), and a low percolation threshold (0.504 wt%).
• Demonstrated impressive thermal response (0.01636 °C⁻¹) for human body temperature measurement.

Conclusions:

• The developed XSBR/SSCNT sensor is multifunctional, scalable, and offers integrated real-time physiological signal tracking.
• This provides a promising pathway for advanced wearable artificial intelligence in health and sports applications.