Ti3C2TX@nonwoven Fabric Composite: Promising MXene-Coated Fabric for Wearable Piezoresistive Pressure Sensors

Although Ti3C2Tx MXene/fabric composites have shown promise as flexible pressure sensors, the effects of MXene composition and structure on piezoresistive properties and the effects of the textile structure on sensitivity have not been systematically studied. Herein, impregnation at room temperature was used as a cost-effective and scalable method to prepare composite materials using different fabrics [plain-woven fabric, twill-woven fabric, weft plain-knitted fabric, jersey cross-tuck fabric, and nonwoven fabric (NWF)] and MXene nanosheets (Ti3C2Tx, Ti2CTx, Ti3CNTx, Mo2CTx, Nb2CTx, and Mo2TiC2Tx). The MXene nanosheets adhered to the fabric surface through hydrogen bonding, resulting in a conductive network structure. The Ti3C2Tx@NWF composite was found to be the optimal flexible pressure sensor, demonstrating high sensitivity (6.31 kPa(-1)), a wide sensing range (up to 150 kPa), fast response/recovery times (300 ms/260 ms), and excellent durability (2000 cycles). Furthermore, the sensor was successfully used to monitor full-scale human motion, including pulse, and a 4 x 4 pixel flexible sensor array was shown to accurately locate pressure and recognize the pressure magnitude. These findings provide a basis for the rational design of MXene/textile composites as wearable pressure sensors for medical diagnosis, human-computer interactions, and electronic skin applications.

Automated summary

In this study, composite materials using different fabrics and MXene nanosheets were prepared through room temperature impregnation. The Ti3C2Tx@NWF composite was found to be the optimal flexible pressure sensor, demonstrating high sensitivity, a wide sensing range, fast response/recovery times, and excellent durability. The findings provide a basis for the rational design of MXene/textile composites as wearable pressure sensors and demonstrate the potential of these sensors in monitoring human motion and locating pressure accurately.