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Versatile graphene/polyelectrolyte aqueous dispersion for fiber-based wearable sensors and electroluminescent devices

用于纤维基可穿戴传感器和电致发光器件的多功能石墨烯/聚电解质水性分散液

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Abstract

Conductive dispersion is a crucial building block for obtaining conductive fibers/textiles used in wearable sensing, energy supply, and flexible display devices. However, despite the graphene’s stable chemical properties and high electrical conductivity, fabricating graphene dispersions compatible with fiber/textile materials remains challenging. Here, an eco-friendly and stable graphene aqueous dispersion was fabricated by introducing poly(sodium-p-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) dispersant based on non-covalent interactions. Due to the modification of PSS, graphene carries negative charges, and the resulting electrostatic repulsion promotes the stable dispersion of graphene. Moreover, PSS assists graphene in forming a robust adhesion to substrates. Flexible mechanical sensors using graphene-modified fibers and fibrous membranes, including stretchable strain sensors and pressure sensors, were developed, showing high stretchability of up to 100% with a sensitivity of 144.6, capable of a sensing strain as small as 0.1%. Flexible electrophysiological electrodes were also fabricated to record electromyography and electrocardiograph signals for a long time. As a proof of concept, a coaxial electroluminescent fiber was demonstrated to provide illumination for a submarine model to complete complex tasks. This advancement will further propel the advanced nanomaterials into wearable fields.

摘要

导电分散液是构建用于可穿戴传感器、能源和柔性显示器件中 导电纤维/织物的关键组成部分. 尽管石墨烯具有稳定的化学性质和高 电导性, 但制备与纤维/织物材料兼容的石墨烯分散液仍然具有挑战性. 本研究通过引入聚苯乙烯磺酸钠(PSS)分散剂, 成功制备了环境友好且 稳定的石墨烯水性分散液. PSS通过非共价作用改性石墨烯, 使其表面 带负电荷, 由此产生的静电排斥促进了石墨烯的稳定分散. 此外, PSS还 有助于石墨烯与基底之间形成牢固的粘附. 我们制备了基于石墨烯改 性的纤维和纤维膜的柔性机械传感器, 包括可拉伸应变传感器和压力 传感器; 其中, 应变传感器具有100%的高拉伸性和144.6的灵敏度, 也能 够感知0.1%的小应变. 此外, 制备的柔性生理电极能够长时间记录肌电 信号和心电信号. 作为概念验证, 制备的同轴电致发光纤维能够为潜艇 模型提供照明, 以完成水下复杂任务. 这项工作将进一步推动先进纳米 材料在可穿戴领域的应用.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52373201, 52103252 and 52090033), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2232024Y-01), and the State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials (Donghua University).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China

    Zhenyu Miao  (缪振宇), Rouhui Yu  (余柔会), Xiaowen Bai  (白晓文), Xiangheng Du  (杜相恒), Zhonghua Yang  (杨中华), Tao Zhou  (周涛), Meifang Zhu  (朱美芳) & Shaowu Pan  (潘绍武)

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  1. Zhenyu Miao  (缪振宇)
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  2. Rouhui Yu  (余柔会)
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  3. Xiaowen Bai  (白晓文)
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  4. Xiangheng Du  (杜相恒)
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  5. Zhonghua Yang  (杨中华)
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  6. Tao Zhou  (周涛)
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  7. Meifang Zhu  (朱美芳)
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  8. Shaowu Pan  (潘绍武)
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Contributions

Author contributions Pan S and Zhu M conceived and designed the research project. Miao Z performed the experiments and collected the data. Miao Z and Pan S wrote the manuscript. Yu R, Bai X, Du X, Yang Z and Zhou T assisted with some experimental measurements and manuscript correction. All authors contributed to the general discussion.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shaowu Pan  (潘绍武).

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Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Supplementary information Experimental details and supporting data are available in the online version of the paper.

Shaowu Pan is currently a professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Donghua University. He received his BE degree in chemistry at Hunan University of Science and Technology in 2009, his MS degree in organic chemistry at South China Normal University in 2012, and his PhD in materials science and engineering at Tongji University in 2015 with a joint study experience at Fudan University. He then worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore before joining Donghua University in 2020. His research interests include smart materials, flexible sensing, and fiber electronics.

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Miao, Z., Yu, R., Bai, X. et al. Versatile graphene/polyelectrolyte aqueous dispersion for fiber-based wearable sensors and electroluminescent devices. Sci. China Mater. 67, 1915–1925 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-024-2961-5

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