Interactively Full-Color Changeable Electronic Fiber Sensor with High Stretchability and Rapid Response

Smart interactive electronic devices can dynamically respond to and visualize environmental stimuli. Inspired by the rapid color changes of natural creatures, an interactive electronic fiber sensor with high stretchability and tunable coloration is presented. It is based on an ingenious multi-sheath design on a piezoresistive electronic fiber coupled with a mechanochromic photonic crystal microtubule. It has the unique capabilities of sensing and visualizing its deformation simultaneously, by reconstructing conductive paths and regulating the lattice spacing of the photonic sheath. In particular, it exhibits dynamic color switching spanning the full visible region (from red to blue), fast optical/electrical response (approximate to 80 ms), and a large working range (0-200%), allowing its application as a user-interactive sensor for dynamically monitoring large joint movements and muscle microvibrations of the human body in real time. This investigation provides a general platform for emerging interactive devices, which are promising for applications in wearable electronics, human-machine interactions, and intelligent robots.