Flexible and stretchable metal oxide nanofiber networks for multimodal and monolithically integrated wearable electronics

Abstract

Fiber-based electronics enabling lightweight and mechanically flexible/stretchable functions are desirable for numerous e-textile/e-skin optoelectronic applications. These wearable devices require low-cost manufacturing, high reliability, multifunctionality and long-term stability. Here, we report the preparation of representative classes of 3D-inorganic nanofiber network (FN) films by a blow-spinning technique, including semiconducting indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) and copper oxide, as well as conducting indium-tin oxide and copper metal. Specifically, thin-film transistors based on IGZO FN exhibit negligible performance degradation after one thousand bending cycles and exceptional room-temperature gas sensing performance. Owing to their great stretchability, these metal oxide FNs can be laminated/embedded on/into elastomers, yielding multifunctional single-sensing resistors as well as fully monolithically integrated e-skin devices. These can detect and differentiate multiple stimuli including analytes, light, strain, pressure, temperature, humidity, body movement, and respiratory functions. All of these FN-based devices exhibit excellent sensitivity, response time, and detection limits, making them promising candidates for versatile wearable electronics.

An all-inorganic, fully dense, stretchable ceramic magnetic film

“…The technique accomplishes a densely packed nanocrystal tessellation with outstanding mechanical behaviors. The stable magnetic performance of SMOFs during stretching or bending is promising in stretchability-oriented applications 2,25,26 . However, potential correlation between mechanical strain and magnetic properties may be expected through future investigation including tuning of wrinkling wavelength, surface roughness or size/orientation of nanocrystals 24,27 .…”

Recent Progress in Nanomaterial Enabled Chemical Sensors for Wearable Environmental Monitoring Applications

“…Recently, Wang and co-workers demonstrated a multifunctional wearable nanofiber network that was fabricated using semiconducting oxides including indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) and CuO as well as conducting ITO and Cu. [258] A simple blow-spinning fabrication method was utilized to fabricate heterogeneous elastomeric substrate including poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene] (SEBS), SiO 2 /Si and PI to develop the multimodal sensing device. As presented by the authors, the developed sensors demonstrated excellent performance in detecting different combinations of parameters including NO 2 gas, UV light, temperature, pressure, strain and exhaled gases.…”

Stretchable and Ultrasensitive Intelligent Sensors for Wireless Human–Machine Manipulation

“…Keeping pace with a rapidly developing intelligent society, stretchable and wearable mechanical sensors are playing an increasingly important role in the fields of healthcare monitoring, [ 1–6 ] electronic skin, [ 7–9 ] and human–machine interaction [ 10–16 ] for detecting human body motion, including large‐scale motions (e.g., the bending of hands, arms, legs, and other joint parts of the body) and small‐scale motions (e.g., subtle movements of the skin or muscles owing to breathing, speaking, and pulse vibration). Specifically, resistive‐type stretchable strain sensors based on the disconnection mechanism of conductive nanomaterials have been widely investigated for their high sensitivity, facile preparation process, and simple device structure.…”