Compressible AgNWs/Ti3C2TxMXene aerogel-based highly sensitive piezoresistive pressure sensor as versatile electronic skins

Wearable pressure sensors have been intensively studied as electronic skins, stimulated by the demand for a piezoresistive sensing system that is highly sensitive over an ultrawide pressure range. Herein, a wearable and flexible piezoresistive pressure sensor is developed by assembling a new type of composite aerogel in a sandwich structure. Directional freezing is applied to prepare the silver nanowires (AgNWs)/Ti(3)C(2)T(x)MXene-based compressible composite aerogel, in which 2D Ti3C2Tx, with plentiful functional terminals acting as building skeletons, can reinforce the AgNWs aerogel and the interweaving of 1D AgNWs among Ti(3)C(2)T(x)layers averts stacking. In terms of the synergistic effect, the acquired composite aerogel is endowed with a well-aligned layer structure. The as-prepared piezoresistive pressure sensor exhibits ultrahigh sensitivity (645.69 kPa(-1)) with a detection limit of 1.25 Pa in a wide detection range (0-9 kPa), a short response time (60 ms), and superior bendable performance with a bending angle from 30 degrees to 90 degrees. Additionally, after undergoing more than 1000 compression cycles, it maintains a stable piezoresistive response. The well-aligned AgNWs/Ti(3)C(2)T(x)aerogel reveals its application potential in the wearable healthcare field.