Flexible Sweat Sensors: From Films to Textiles

Flexible sweat sensors have found widespread potential applications for long-term wear and tracking and real-time monitoring of human health. However, the main substrate currently used in common flexible sweat sensors is thin film, which has disadvantages such as poor air permeability and the need for additional wearables. In this Review, the recent progress of sweat sensors has been systematically summarized by the types of monitoring methods of sweat sensors. In addition, this Review introduces and compares the performance of sweat sensors based on thin film and textile substrates such as fiber/yarn. Finally, opportunities and suggestions for the development of flexible sweat sensors are presented by summarizing the integration methods of sensors and human body monitoring sites.

Automated summary

Flexible sweat sensors have potential applications for long-term wear, tracking, and real-time monitoring of human health. However, the use of thin film as the main substrate in common flexible sweat sensors has disadvantages such as poor air permeability and the need for additional wearables. In this Review, the recent progress of sweat sensors is systematically summarized based on the monitoring methods. Furthermore, the performance of sweat sensors based on thin film and textile substrates is introduced and compared. Finally, opportunities and suggestions for the development of flexible sweat sensors are presented by summarizing the integration methods of sensors and human body monitoring sites.