Flexible biomimetic block copolymer composite for temperature and long-wave infrared sensing

Abstract

Biological compounds often provide clues to advance material designs. Replicating their molecular structure and functional motifs in artificial materials offers a blueprint for unprecedented functionalities. Here, we report a flexible biomimetic thermal sensing (BTS) polymer that is designed to emulate the ion transport dynamics of a plant cell wall component, pectin. Using a simple yet versatile synthetic procedure, we engineer the physicochemical properties of the polymer by inserting elastic fragments in a block copolymer architecture, making it flexible and stretchable. The thermal response of our flexible polymer outperforms current state-of-the-art temperature sensing materials, including vanadium oxide, by up to two orders of magnitude. Thermal sensors fabricated from these composites exhibit a sensitivity that exceeds 10 mK and operate stably between 15° and 55°C, even under repeated mechanical deformations. We demonstrate the use of our flexible BTS polymer in two-dimensional arrays for spatiotemporal temperature mapping and broadband infrared photodetection.

Bismuth-Based Perovskite Derivates with Thermal Voltage Exceeding 40 mV/K

“…Unfortunately, the low solubility of the bismuth precursors prevented control of the doping degree. Besides, it has been reported that ionic compensation of point defects could impact doping efficiency. , On the other hand, the 40 mV K –1 thermal voltage produced by MABiI and S.MABiI can be exploited in thermoelectronics. ,− Bi-based perovskite derivates are also easily processable, scalable, and cost-effective, and if MABiI and S.MABiI were employed in thermoelectronics, they could allow the device to scale down from millimeters to microns and deliver a thermal voltage higher than that reported in conventional devices. − Besides, low-dimensional perovskite derivates are increasingly attracting the interest of applied research, thanks to the possibility of exploiting the phenomena resulting from charge confinement in bulk materials.…”

“… 49 , 56 − 59 Bi-based perovskite derivates are also easily processable, scalable, and cost-effective, and if MABiI and S.MABiI were employed in thermoelectronics, they could allow the device to scale down from millimeters to microns and deliver a thermal voltage higher than that reported in conventional devices. 59 − 68 Besides, low-dimensional perovskite derivates are increasingly attracting the interest of applied research, thanks to the possibility of exploiting the phenomena resulting from charge confinement in bulk materials.…”

Ultrasensitive Flexible Temperature Sensors Based on Thermal-Mediated Ions Migration Dynamics in Asymmetrical Polymer Bilayers

“…For instance, the composite based on a polymer matrix and electrically conductive fillers is a pioneering scheme which utilizes the contact resistance variation caused by thermal-induced volume expansion, achieving high TCR and a temperature sensitivity of 20 mK . Pectin and biomimetic pectin have also shown promise, with temperature sensitivity exceeding 10 mK, which represents the highest temperature sensitivity among current state-of-the-art flexible resistive temperature sensors. , However, there is still a lack of predictive models to guide the further development of flexible temperature sensors, particularly in achieving a thermal sensitivity of 1 mK or higher.…”

“…18 Pectin and biomimetic pectin have also shown promise, with temperature sensitivity exceeding 10 mK, which represents the highest temperature sensitivity among current state-of-the-art flexible resistive temperature sensors. 19,20 However, there is still a lack of predictive models to guide the further development of flexible temperature sensors, particularly in achieving a thermal sensitivity of 1 mK or higher.…”