Biomimetic Spun Silk Ionotronic Fibers for Intelligent Discrimination of Motions and Tactile Stimuli

Abstract

Innovation in the ionotronics field has significantly accelerated the development of ultraflexible devices and machines. However, it is still challenging to develop efficient ionotronic‐based fibers with necessary stretchability, resilience, and conductivity due to inherent conflict in producing spinning dopes with both high polymer and ion concentrations and low viscosities. Inspired by the liquid crystalline spinning of animal silk, this study circumvents the inherent tradeoff in other spinning methods by dry spinning a nematic silk microfibril dope solution. The liquid crystalline texture allows the spinning dope to flow through the spinneret and form free‐standing fibers under minimal external forces. The resultant silk‐sourced ionotronic fibers (SSIFs) are highly stretchable, tough, resilient, and fatigue‐resistant. These mechanical advantages ensure a rapid and recoverable electromechanical response of SSIFs to kinematic deformations. Further, the incorporation of SSIFs into core–shell triboelectric nanogenerator fibers provides outstanding stable and sensitive triboelectric response to precisely and sensitively perceive small pressures. Moreover, by implementing a combination of machine learning and Internet of Things techniques, the SSIFs can sort objects made of different materials. With these structural, processing, performance, and functional merits, the SSIFs prepared herein are expected to be applied in human–machine interfaces.

Roadmap to Human–Machine Interaction through Triboelectric Nanogenerator and Machine Learning Convergence

“…Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have been unique products of the human–machine interaction which shows promising applications such as hand movements and gestures, allowing users to interact with virtual objects or augmented environments naturally. − Machine learning algorithms can interpret these gestures, enabling more immersive and intuitive experiences in VR/AR applications. This integration enhances the realism and interactivity of virtual and augmented environments. , …”

“…This integration enhances the realism and interactivity of virtual and augmented environments. 98,99 5.4. Energy Harvesting and Self-Powered Systems.…”

Stretchable spring‐sheathed yarn sensor for 3D dynamic body reconstruction assisted by transfer learning

“…In recent researches, wearable strain sensor 7 shows great potential in human motion tracking 8 and health information detection 9 . Among them, one‐dimensional core‐shell structured yarn sensors, such as ionotronic silk fibers based sensors, 10 braided yarn sensors, 11 or nanocomposite yarns 12 have demonstrated excellent monitoring performance to the strain. In case of smart yarn sensing rulers that is supposed to monitor the human body dimensions and shape of the garment through the slightest posture‐change detection, two requirements are necessary: stable performance throughout the various repeated tests ensured via a feasible processing method and high sensitivity in a low strain range (0%–5%), which are still challenging.…”

3D Printing Silk Fibroin/Polyacrylamide Triple-Network Composite Hydrogels with Stretchability, Conductivity, and Strain-Sensing Ability as Bionic Electronic Skins

“…In this work, silk microfiber (SMF)/regenerated silk fibroin (RSF)/PAM triple-network composite hydrogels exhibiting excellent properties, such as stretchability, conductivity, strain-sensing ability, and 3D printability, were fabricated based on a simple white source curing method. The SF component and the cross-linked RSF hydrogel provide the advantages of good biocompatibility and biodegradability, which make SF one of the ideal natural materials for electronic skins. − The PAM hydrogel has been reported to have excellent stretchability and strain-sensing ability . The addition of negatively charged SMF enhances the mechanical properties, conductivity, and sensing ability of hydrogels due to the interaction between SMF and RSF and the adsorption of cations.…”