Flexible and breathable strain sensor with high performance based on MXene/nylon fabric network

Abstract

The stretchable, skin-mountable and wearable strain sensors are much desired for many applications, including human motion signals detection and physiological signals monitoring, and so forth. However, the fabrication of wearable strain sensors with high sensitivity, broad sensing range, and excellent comfort in a low-cost method remains a challenge. In this work, a high-performance strain sensor composed of a kind of nylon fabric and a two-dimensional layered nanomaterials-MXene (Ti3C2Tx) is reported. The thin nylon fabric has good stretchability and air permeability being available for wearable devices. The MXene as electrode material exhibits an excellent conductivity and hydrophilicity, which can be well adhered to the fabric. By integrating the advantages of MXene and fabric, the gauge factor of this as-prepared sensor can be up to 24.35 and 5.98 within the strain range of 20 % in the axial and radial of nylon fabric, respectively. Meanwhile, the sensor possesses high durability (>500) and good fastness to washing. Finally, a sleeve-shaped strain sensor that can well fit the human body is fabricated using a simple patterning impregnation method to detect subtle or large body movements.