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Highly sensitive, durable, environmentally tolerant and multimodal composite ionogel-based sensor with an ultrawide response range

高灵敏度, 超宽响应范围, 环境耐受性高的多模式离 子凝胶基传感器

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Abstract

In recent years, skin-like ionic sensors have attracted considerable attention due to their excellent performance, feasibility, and biocompatibility. However, developing a multifunctional, stable, durable, highly sensitive skinlike ionic sensor is a challenge. Herein, a composite ionogel with good durability, environmental tolerance (freezing and vacuum resistance), ionic conductivity, self-healing capability, high adhesion and stretchability was fabricated via a simple UV initiated polymerization. The ionogel could be easily assembled into strain, pressure, and temperature sensors for detecting changes in the external environment. In strain and pressure sensing tests, the ionogel-based sensor exhibited high sensitivity (gauge factor GF = 14.7), a wide response range (1%–1600%), rapid response time (95.8 ms), high stability, and repeatability (50% for 1000 cycles). Therefore, it could trace not only wide joint movements but also subtle changes in facial expressions (frowning). The sensor could also be assembled into a knock sensor and a high-precision touch pad sensor for message transmission. The ionogel-based sensor exhibited high sensitivity to temperature variations from 0 to 120°C and a low detection threshold (0.1°C). Thus, the proposed ionogel-based sensor has enormous potential in multifunctional electronic and sensory device applications.

摘要

近年来, 离子类皮肤传感器因其高性能和良好的兼容性等优点 而备受关注. 然而, 开发一种多功能、稳定、高灵敏度和耐用的离子类 皮肤传感器仍面临挑战. 本文通过简单的紫外引发聚合制备了具有良 好耐用性、环境(抗冻、耐真空)稳定性、离子导电性、自愈性、高粘 附性和拉伸性的复合离子凝胶. 该离子凝胶可以组装为应变、压力和 温度传感器, 用于检测外部环境的变化. 无论是作为应变传感器还是压 力传感器, 离子凝胶基传感器都具有高灵敏度(GF = 14.7)、宽响应范 围(1%–1600%)、快速响应时间(95.8 ms)、优异的稳定性和可重复性 (1000次). 因此, 它不仅可以追踪关节运动, 还可以监测细微的表情变化 (皱眉). 该离子凝胶还可以组装成敲击传感器和高精度书写板传感器, 用于信息传递. 此外, 该传感器对温度变化具有较高的灵敏度, 温度感 知范围在0–120°C之间, 且检测阈值较低(0.1°C). 因此, 基于离子凝胶的 传感器有望应用于多功能电子和传感设备.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFC1801502).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Lab of Science and Technology of Eco-textile, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Innovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China

    Jianfei Tie  (铁建飞), Zhiping Mao  (毛志平), Linping Zhang  (张琳萍), Yi Zhong  (钟毅), Xiaofeng Sui  (隋晓锋) & Hong Xu  (徐红)

  2. National Manufacturing Innovation Center of Advanced Dyeing and Finishing Technology, Taian, 271000, China

    Zhiping Mao  (毛志平)

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  1. Jianfei Tie  (铁建飞)
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  2. Zhiping Mao  (毛志平)
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  3. Linping Zhang  (张琳萍)
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  4. Yi Zhong  (钟毅)
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  5. Xiaofeng Sui  (隋晓锋)
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  6. Hong Xu  (徐红)
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Contributions

Tie J performed the experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript with help from Mao Z, Zhang L, Zhong Y, and Sui X. Mao Z and Xu H conceived the project. All authors contributed to the general discussion.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Zhiping Mao  (毛志平) or Hong Xu  (徐红).

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Supplementary information

Supporting data are available in the online version of the paper.

Jianfei Tie is a PhD candidate at Donghua University. Her current research focuses on the flexible gel-based sensor.

Zhiping Mao is director of the Key Lab of Science and Technology of Eco-textile, Ministry of Education. He is also a professor of the Department of Textile Chemistry, Donghua University. His research interests focus on developing green and sustainable chemicals and surface modification processes for advancing textile dyeing and finishing. He is also interested in constructing flexible composite materials for smart textiles.

Hong Xu is a professor of the Department of Textile Chemistry and Engineering, Donghua University. She was a visiting scholar at the University of Twente (Netherlands). Her research interests focus on the design & construction of bio-degradable polymers and their composites, and surface modification and functionalization of PET fabrics and P/C blends.

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Highly sensitive, durable, environmentally tolerant and multimodal composite ionogel-based sensor with an ultrawide response range

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Tie, J., Mao, Z., Zhang, L. et al. Highly sensitive, durable, environmentally tolerant and multimodal composite ionogel-based sensor with an ultrawide response range. Sci. China Mater. 66, 1899–1910 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-022-2294-5

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