Amphibian-inspired conductive ionogel stabilizing in air/water as a wearable amphibious flexible sensor for drowning alarms

Abstract

Gel-based sensors have provided unprecedented opportunities for bioelectric monitoring. Until now, sensors for underwater applicants have remained a notable challenge, as most sensors work effectively in air but swell underwater leading to functional failure. Herein, we introduce an innovative amphibian-inspired high-performance ionogel, where multiple supramolecular interactions in the ionogel's network confer good stretchability, elasticity, conductivity, and the hydrophobic C-F bonds play a key role in diminishing water molecule hydration and provide outstanding environmental stability. These unique properties of ionogels make them suitable as wearable amphibious flexible sensors, and the sensors are capable of highly sensitive and stable human motion monitoring in air and underwater. Integration of the designed sensor into an artificial intelligence drowning alarm system, which recognizes the swimmer's movement status by monitoring the amplitude and frequency, especially in the drowning status for real-time alarms. This work provides novel strategies for motion recognition and hazard monitoring in amphibious environments, meeting the new generation of wearable sensors.