Flexible and Stretchable Poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene)/MXene Nanosheet Composite and Coaxial Fibers for Wearable Strain Sensors

Abstract

Fiber-based strain sensors have become a vital part for wearable electronics owing to their lightweight, flexibility, and easy processing. A poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS)/MXene composite and coaxial fiber-based strain sensors were produced through a continuous, facile, and scalable wet-spinning approach, which exhibited both high stretchability and sensitivity. Electromechanical properties displayed that SBS/MXene composite fibers showed extremely high sensitivity (1.63 × 104), low strain detection (0.5%), and outstanding durability and reliability, which laid a foundation for detecting human motion including subtle activities, such as breathing and wrist pulse, and large-scale activities, such as bending of limb joints. The strain-sensing performance was further investigated by SBS/MXene coaxial fibers with SBS/MXene as sheath and SBS as core, presenting high sensitivity (4.69 × 103) and repeatability. SBS/MXene composite and coaxial fiber sensors demonstrated the potential application in wearable electronics with human motion detection.

A Flexible and Stretchable MXene/Waterborne Polyurethane Composite-Coated Fiber Strain Sensor for Wearable Motion and Healthcare Monitoring

“…For such intention, several methods, such as wet spinning [ 15 , 16 , 17 ] and dip coating [ 18 , 19 , 20 ], have been reported. For example, Huang et al developed a coaxial fiber-based strain sensor with high sensitivity and a wide detection range by a continuous, facile, and scalable wet spinning approach [ 21 ]. However, the wet spinning process generally includes the formation of fine stream by pressing, as well as the production of fibers by coagulation in the solution, which is often completed by the specific equipment or apparatus.…”