Recent Advances in Physical Sensors Based on Electrospinning Technology

Abstract

In the past decades, the rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology and artificial intelligence (AI) has driven the research boom of physical sensors. Material selection, structure design, and performance research for physical sensors have attracted extensive attention from worldwide researchers in the field of advanced manufacturing. Significant technological progress has been made in the area of physical sensors for applications in various fields such as electronic skin, biomedicine, and tissue engineering. There are many methods (e.g., electrospinning, screen printing, or rotary coating) to prepare physical sensors. Among them, nanofibers or nanofiber membranes prepared by electrospinning have the advantages of a nanosize effect, high specific surface area, and high porosity over other reported materials used for physical sensors. In this review, the working principles of various physical sensors including pressure sensors, strain sensors, temperature sensors, and humidity sensors are first introduced; recent research progress of electrospun nanofiber-based physical sensors is then summarized. Finally, future research trends and associated challenges of large-scale adoption of electrospun physical sensors are proposed.

Recent Progress in Stimuli-Responsive Antimicrobial Electrospun Nanofibers

“…To this end, electrospun nanofibers and 3D printing were combined for the manufacture of light-responsive face masks containing gold nanoparticles with excellent antimicrobial properties [102]. Regarding the stimuli sensitivity of electrospun materials, studies have shown that the nanofiber properties (e.g., size, porosity, roughness, diameter, and surface chemistry) can affect their response towards several stimuli, including heat, light, pressure, or humidity [97]. For example, the porous microstructure (5.45 m 2 /g) of electrospun membranes, based on cellulose diacetate incorporated with protoporphyrin IX and potassium iodide, favored interactions between the pathogens and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated after laser irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm, 66 mW/cm 2 for 30 min), resulting in an antibacterial efficiency of 99% against E. coli and S. aureus [98].…”

Sandwich-Like Flexible Breathable Strain Sensor with Tunable Thermal Regulation Capability for Human Motion Monitoring

“…4−6 Electrospinning micro/nanofiber films are typical substrate materials for constructing flexible resistive sensors and exhibit many advantageous features such as skinlike softness, high specific surface area, large porosity, excellent stretchability, and ease of fabrication. 7,8 To further endow the flexible nanofiber films with desirable sensing performances, various conductive nanomaterials are introduced via physical deposition or chemical bonding. 9−11 Typically, the emerging two-dimensional MXene, known for its exceptional electrical conductivity, large specific surface area, and abundant surface functional groups, shows promising potential in the fabrication of a sensing layer.…”

“…Electrospinning micro/nanofiber films are typical substrate materials for constructing flexible resistive sensors and exhibit many advantageous features such as skinlike softness, high specific surface area, large porosity, excellent stretchability, and ease of fabrication. , To further endow the flexible nanofiber films with desirable sensing performances, various conductive nanomaterials are introduced via physical deposition or chemical bonding. − Typically, the emerging two-dimensional MXene, known for its exceptional electrical conductivity, large specific surface area, and abundant surface functional groups, shows promising potential in the fabrication of a sensing layer. − Numerous studies have highlighted the importance of constructing uninterrupted electron-transport channels in the fabrication of polymer/MXene-based resistive strain sensors. However, the conductive paths are susceptible to damage under repetitive deformation, thus severely decreasing the sensing stability of sensors. − On the other hand, the large resistance change caused by conductive nanomaterials in highly sensitive strain sensors and other flexible electronics will generate a mass of heat.…”

Sugar-plastic assisted fabrication of hollow PDMS wearable fabrics toward excellent sensory capabilities

“…, graphene), etc. 11,12 The outstanding advantage of such a strategy is its simplicity of operation; however, it is limited by the equipment, complex operation, etc. The second one is to directly apply conductive materials as coatings onto fibers or fabric by chemical or electrochemical deposition.…”