Molecularly polymerized topological textile sensor with curvature-independent response for reliable joint motion...

Textile-based flexible capacitive sensors have potential for personalized rehabilitation monitoring, yet their reliability is often compromised by variations in limb morphology, a factor rarely considered. We developed a curvature-adaptive wearable capacitive sensor by constructing a topological structure via molecular self-polymerization on textile, which firmly anchors in-situ grown nickel nanoparticles, forming a conductive and interfacial-integrated sensing layer. This molecular-level design ensures robust adhesion and electrical stability during dynamic deformation. Importantly, the sensor exhibits consistent capacitive response trends throughout elbow flexion-extension (from minimum angle to 180°), even when assembled on surfaces with curvatures of 45°, 90°, and 120°, effectively simulating diverse limb sizes. This curvature-independent performance is validated through theoretical modeling and experiments. Our work not only demonstrates a durable sensing platform with enhanced interfacial reliability but also establishes an essential design paradigm for future wearable electronics: maintaining signal integrity across physiological curvature variations via molecularly engineered material integration.