Hierarchically structured polyvinylidene fluoride core-shell composite yarn based on electrospinning coating method to improve piezoelectricity

Wearable electronic skin with high sensitivity and self-power has shown increasing prospects for applications, such as human health monitoring and intelligent electronic products. Here, AgNY/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)@TiO2/Ag/PVDF (APTAP) composite yarn with 3D hierarchically structure is fabricated by a conjugate electrospinning coating method and wet chemical deposition. The fabricated APTAP yarn has respectable piezoelectric performance whose voltage output and current output reached 1650 mV and 70 nA when the silver-plated concentration is 2%. In addition, the composite piezoelectric yarn shows good mechanical properties that tensile strength and elongation at break of the piezoelectric yarn with a silver-plated concentration of 3% reach 284.37 MPa and 61.80%. A fabric is woven based on this yarn and it has a respectable signal output and shows satisfactory sensitivity that can be used to detect subtle signals. Therefore, this fiber-based sensor provides an idea for monitoring the subtle physiological signals of the human body and shows broad potential in the extended application of medical care and clinical diagnosis in the future.

Automated summary

This study successfully fabricated a wearable electronic skin composite yarn with high sensitivity and self-power, and a fabric based on this yarn showed good signal output and sensitivity. This fiber-based sensor provides an idea for monitoring subtle physiological signals of the human body and has broad potential in medical care and clinical diagnosis.