Wide response stretchable sensors by stress distribution control of multi-structure for hand motion monitoring and energy harvesting

Abstract

With the growing demand for wearable electronics, a variety of flexible strain sensors have made booming development. However, achieving good linearity and wide sensing range based on stress distribution controls for flexible strain sensors in an economical manner is still a challenge. Herein, combining mature textile processing methods, three strain sensors based on stress distribution to balance the sensitivity-stretchability contradiction have been fabricated. A porous fiber-based stretchable strain sensor with a unique conductive pathway consisting of a three-dimensional (3D) fiber skeleton of Juncus effusus (JE) and Ketjen black (KB) particles embedded on the surface was presented. The obtained JE-based strain sensor exhibits advanced characteristics of good sensitivity (GF = 7.09) and durability (> 2000 cycles). Secondly, two novel strain sensors were prepared by mature textile methods to extend their sensing range (> 180%). All three sensors have been demonstrated to have favorable linearity and stability, making them selectable based on specific application requirements. Furthermore, the developed JE-based sensors demonstrate strong potential for energy harvesting, capable of generating an average voltage of 65.5 V and a power output of 82.3 μW. Such the prepared sensors with favorable linearity and a wide sensing range based on stress distribution controls demonstrate potential applications for hand motion monitoring and energy harvesting in wearable electronics.