A stretchable and printable PEDOT:PSS/PDMS composite conductors and its application to wearable strain sensor

Abstract

In recent years, with the widespread application of stretchable electronic devices, the demand for high performance wearable strain sensors is increasing. We propose a simple strategy to prepare a stretchable composite conductor based on the good miscibility of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) under doping. Although the addition of high concentration PEDOT:PSS can improve conductivity, it also reduces the mechanical properties and transmittance of the conductor. The composite conductor containing 20 wt% PEDOT:PSS not only exhibit good electrical conductivity, recovery and piezoresistive effects, but also have excellent tensile properties, transparency and cycle stability. As a core application, composite conductor can be directly attached to human skin as strain sensors for real-time monitoring of the knuckles, elbows and knee joints. In addition, we also reveal the scalability of the conductor preparation technology, that is, the PEDOT:PSS/PDMS blends exhibits satisfactory screen printing suitability. The printed conductor maintains the electrical conductivity and flexibility of the material itself, and the printing effect has no obvious detail missing.