Highly Aligned Bacteria Cellulose Yarn Aggregation for Energy Generation and Strain Sensing

Invoking high-performance bio-based fibres (e.g., Bacterial cellulose) contributes to the sustainability and functionality of wearable electronic devices at the material level. However, the fabrication of self-powered and high-mechanosensitive stretchable BC-based sensors is challenging due to the difficulty in adaptable soft-rigid triboelectrical interfaces and obtaining ordered conductive bacterial cellulose fibres. Here, inspired by the spiral construction from biological systems, we develop an innovative bio-fabrication strategy to develop a core-sheath yarn that features the ordered network and mechanosensitive twisting structures. The yarn sensor integrates the complementary advantages of triboelectric and resistive responses for the integration of strain sensing and energy self-sufficiency. Converging factors of core-sheath structure, modulus-mismatch-governed elongation, and network cracks give the yarn sensor a sensitive mechanosensitive response (8.246), a wide strain range (up to 100%), and high voltage signals (over 50 V). The scalable self-powered fabrics based on yarns are also used as wearable power generation and energy storage for charging the yarn sensing system, achieving continuous health monitoring. The design of the unique structure assists the BC-based sensors to effectively energy charging and driving healthy monitoring system. These empirical insights from bio-manufacturing techniques to structural design of ordered yarns pave the way to obtaining multi-functional high-performance bio-based sensors.