Multifunctional hydrophobic fabric-based strain sensor for human motion detection and personal thermal management

Multifunctional flexible devices for human motion detection and thermal management raised great at-tention as the problem of the aging population is becoming more and more serious. However, it is still a challenge to endow the devices with excellent stability and wide application scope. Here we prepared a hydrophobic and conductive fabric-based strain sensor for smart fabric via successively coating with poly -dopamine (PDA), polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPy), and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) through in-situ polymerization and dip-coating, which could be used for strain sensor and wearable heater both in air and underwater. The obtained sample exhibited a fast electrical response in 500 ms and could withstand 10,0 0 0 times stretching-releasing cycles, additionally, the sample exhibited satisfactory electro-thermal and photo-thermal performances. As a whole, the multifunctional fabric-based devices with excellent performances show great potential to be applied in medical monitoring and personal care, especially for aged and disabled persons.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

Automated summary

This study successfully prepared a hydrophobic and conductive fabric-based strain sensor for smart fabric, which can be used as a strain sensor and wearable heater. The sensor exhibited a fast electrical response, excellent stability, and satisfactory electro-thermal and photo-thermal performances. It shows great potential for applications in medical monitoring and personal care.