Heterogeneous Structural Color Conductive Photonic Organohydrogel Fibers with Alternating Single and Dual Networks.

Area of Science:

• Flexible electronics
• Materials science
• Sensor technology

Background:

• Intelligent interactive electronic devices are crucial for flexible electronics development.
• Existing devices often lack dynamic visual response to stimuli.
• Need for sensors with both electrical and optical outputs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an interactive electronic fiber sensor with heterogeneous structural color (HSCEF sensor).
• To achieve synchronous electrical and optical dual signal output under strain.
• To enhance low-temperature tolerance and cyclic stability of the sensor.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an alternating single- and dual-network design strategy.
• Incorporated low-freezing-point glycerol for improved low-temperature performance.
• Investigated the adjustment of conductive ion transport distance and photonic crystal lattice spacing.

Main Results:

• The HSCEF sensor demonstrated rapid synchronous electrical and optical signal output (∼200 ms).
• Achieved excellent low-temperature tolerance (-25 °C) and cyclic stability.
• Exhibited heterogeneous structural color with high mechanochromic sensitivity (2.25 nm %^-1) and a large wavelength shift (Δλ ∼ 225 nm) across the visible spectrum.

Conclusions:

• The developed HSCEF sensor offers a general strategy for transforming photonic gels into heterogeneous structural color materials.
• The sensor enables real-time dynamic detection of joint movements with precise amplitude resolution.
• Potential applications include visual health monitoring, exercise tracking, and intelligent soft robotics.