Sweat-Permeable, Biodegradable, Transparent and Self-powered Chitosan-Based Electronic Skin with Ultrathin Elastic Gold Nanofibers

The simultaneous achievement of multiple functional attributes, such as flexibility, stretchability, transparency, comfortability, biodegradability, and self-powered ability into electronic skins (e-skins) is vital to their long-term practical applications. Due to the internal contradiction between functional material combination and simple structural design, this kind of multifunctional e-skin has rarely been fabricated or even reported. To this end, chitosan (CS), a natural material with remarkable biocompatibility, biodegradability, and electron-donating ability, is integrated with a single-mode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) to develop a multifunctional e-skin, which includes sweat permeability, controllable biodegradability, high transparency, and self-powered sensing ability. In addition, a facile, efficient, and large-scale fabrication strategy is proposed to construct stretchable, ultrathin, transparent, and shape-adaptable gold nanofibers (Au NFs) electrodes. Furthermore, the e-skin can achieve a voltage response pressure sensitivity of 0.012 kPa(-1) in the pressure range of 0-70 kPa and a fast response time of 70 ms. Finally, it shows controllable and excellent degradability in various solutions. It is believed that the proposed e-skin based on the design and integration of CS and Au NFs will provide a paradigm shift for the next-generation self-powered transient electronics.

Automated summary

This study successfully integrates chitosan and triboelectric nanogenerator, developing a multifunctional electronic skin with sweat permeability, controllable biodegradability, high transparency, and self-powered sensing ability. Furthermore, a facile fabrication strategy is proposed to construct stretchable, transparent, and shape-adaptable gold nanofiber electrodes. The electronic skin exhibits high pressure sensitivity and fast response time, as well as controllable degradation in various solutions.