Continuous scale preparation of stretchable and durable flexible MXene/MWCNTs@TPU coaxial fibers for human motion detection

Abstract

Fiber-based strain sensors have assumed a critical role in wearable electronic textiles owing to their flexibility and elasticity. The challenges still exist in achieving rapid and scalable production, washability, and durability of fiber-based strain sensors. MXene/MWCNTs@TPU coaxial fibers with high stretchability, durability, and excellent sensing performance have been efficiently obtained through the coaxial wet spinning approach. The coaxial fiber employs MXene/MWCNTs/ TPU as the sheath and TPU as the core. This core-sheath structure effectively protects the internal conductive pathways and imparts excellent elasticity to the fiber. The composite conductive pathways, constructed from 1D MWCNTs and 2D MXene, enhances the mechanical properties of the fibers while simultaneously imparting outstanding sensing performance. The obtained MXene/MWCNTs@TPU coaxial fibers exhibit excellent flexibility, extensibility (608.8 %), and tensile strength (12.8 MPa), being capable of lifting objects 10,000 times their own weight. The coaxial fibers exhibit excellent sensing performance as strain sensors, including high sensitivity (GF=553.9 at 35–45 % strain), fast response (200 ms) and outstanding stability (12,000 cycles). The MXene/ MWCNTs@TPU coaxial fibers demonstrate excellent washability and resistance to environmental interference, maintaining stable conductivity (ΔR/R₀ < 8 %) even after prolonged washing and soaking. Therefore, the MXene/MWCNTs@TPU coaxial fibers hold great promise for use in human motion detection and wearable electronic devices.