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Updated: Sep 9, 2025
Author Spotlight: Microfluidic Channel-Based Soft Electrodes and Their Application in Capacitive Pressure Sensing
Published on: March 17, 2023
Tough Hydrogel Reinforced by Meta-Aramid Nanofibers for Flexible Sensors
Zhiwen Hou1, Yongzheng Li1, Donghao Zhang1
1Key Laboratory of Marine Bio-Based Fibers of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Shandong Provincial Universities for Advanced Fibers and Composites, Qingdao Application Technology Innovation Center of Advanced Fibers and Composites, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
Abstract:
Hydrogels exhibit significant promise for advanced flexible sensing applications owing to their intrinsic softness, biocompatibility, and customizable functionalities. Nevertheless, their limited mechanical strength poses a critical barrier to practical implementation. In this study, we engineered a mechanically robust alginate/chitosan (SA/CS) hydrogel reinforced with meta-aramid (PMIA) nanofibers. The resulting composite hydrogel achieves a tensile strength of 16.8 MPa, substantially exceeding the performance of conventional biomass-derived hydrogels. When employed as a flexible sensor, the hydrogel demonstrates exceptional pressure-sensing capabilities, featuring high sensitivity (178.41 MΩ/MPa below 5 kPa), rapid response kinetics (0.4-0.8 s), and sustained stability (>200 cycles). Leveraging these properties, we successfully monitored vocal cord vibrations and finger motion trajectories, highlighting their potential for biomechanical sensing applications.
