Temperature Sensors Integrated with an Electrochromic Readout toward Visual Detection

Temperature sensors have attracted great attention forpersonalhealth care and disease diagnosis in recent years. However, it isstill a great challenge to fabricate reliable and highly sensitivetemperature sensors that can convert physiological signals into easilyreadable signals in a convenient way. Herein, an integrated smarttemperature sensor system based on a traditional temperature sensorand electrochromic display is proposed for real-time visual detectionof temperature. Significantly, a voltage-regulated electrochromicdevice (ECD) based on tungsten oxide (WO3) and polyaniline(PANI) as the real-time visualization window was integrated into theplatform to provide feedback on the temperature change. The ECD wouldchange its color from green to blue based on the electrical signalof the temperature sensor, resulting in a visualized readout thatcan be monitored through our naked eye. Additionally, the smart temperaturesensor system possesses an extremely durable property and cycle stability,remaining around 90% of the initial value even after 15,000 s continuouscycle. Thus, the novel design and low power consumption advantagesmake it a good candidate to pave the way for developing interactivewearable electronics and intelligent robots as real-time temperaturefeedback systems.

Automated summary

Temperature sensors have received great attention for personal health care and disease diagnosis recently. However, developing reliable and highly sensitive temperature sensors that can convert physiological signals into easily readable signals in a convenient way remains a challenge. In this study, an integrated smart temperature sensor system is proposed, which uses a traditional temperature sensor and an electrochromic display for real-time visual detection of temperature. The system possesses durable and stable properties and has the potential to pave the way for developing interactive wearable electronics and intelligent robots as real-time temperature feedback systems.