Multifunctional cross-sensitive magnetic alginate-chitosan-polyethylene oxide nanofiber sensor for human-machine...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Flexible nanofiber membranes are promising for multi-mode sensors but struggle with cross-sensitivity, stability, and signal discrimination.
• Simultaneously achieving high performance in these areas remains a significant challenge in sensor development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel multi-mode sensor with enhanced flexibility, stability, and signal discrimination capabilities.
• To explore the potential of interpenetrating networks in creating advanced sensor materials.
• To demonstrate the sensor's application in a wearable human-machine interface.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a nanofiber membrane sensor using electrospinning with bidisperse magnetic particles, sodium alginate (SA), chitosan (CHI), and polyethylene oxide hydrogels.
• Regulation of nanofiber morphology through crosslinking degree and electrospinning parameters.
• Characterization of sensor performance including magnetic sensitivity, stability, cross-sensitivity, response time, and durability under mechanical stimuli.

Main Results:

• The sensor exhibited desirable flexibility, biocompatibility, and skin-friendliness due to SA and CHI incorporation.
• Achieved magnetic sensitivity of 0.34 T⁻¹, reliable stability, quick response, and durability over 5000 cycles.
• Successfully discriminated multi-mode stimuli via opposite electrical signals, enabling a wearable Morse code system with >99.1% accuracy using machine learning.

Conclusions:

• The developed multi-mode sensor overcomes limitations of traditional flexible sensors, offering simultaneous high performance in sensitivity, stability, and signal discrimination.
• The sensor's unique properties make it highly suitable for advanced applications in wearable soft electronics and human-machine interactions.
• The successful demonstration of a Morse code translation system highlights the practical potential of this technology.