A self-healing water-dissolvable and stretchable cellulose-hydrogel for strain sensor

The flexible hydrogel sensors in the field of artificial intelligence have been widely concerned, which could be applied in medical monitoring, human motion detection, and intelligent robots. However, the integration of the synergistic properties of excellent mechanical properties, temperature sensitivity, adhesion ability and self-healing ability for preparation of hydrogel-type strain sensor is still a challenge. Moreover, how can we recover cumulated sensors without affecting the environment? Herein, a self-healing hydrogel was prepared based on deep eutectic solvent (DES) combined with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), which has the peotential application as wearable strain sensors. The DES network crosslinks PVA/CMC-Na/CNCs through ionic bonds, and the overall network is further linked through physical entanglement and hydrogen bonding interactions. Interestingly, the hydrogel could sensitively detect large or subtle movements (such as finger bending, wrist bending, knee bending, pulse and pronounce), indicating its potential applications in human-computer interaction and personal health monitoring.

Automated summary

Flexible hydrogel sensors with synergistic properties of mechanical strength, temperature sensitivity, adhesion, and self-healing present promising applications in medical monitoring, human motion detection, and intelligent robots. However, integrating these properties for hydrogel strain sensors remains challenging. A self-healing hydrogel based on deep eutectic solvent combined with PVA and CNCs shows potential as wearable strain sensors for detecting subtle movements and could be used in human-computer interaction and personal health monitoring.