Flexible, transparent, and antibacterial ionogels toward highly sensitive strain and temperature sensors

Abstract

Skin-like sensor has recently emerged for its promising applications in human motion monitoring and healthcare. However, it is challenging to develop flexible skin-like sensors multifunctionally coupled with high transparency and strain sensitivity, accurate thermosensation, and good antibacterial activity. Herein, we fabricate flexible and transparent (94.3%) ionogels by facilely mixing ionic liquid (IL) and thermal-plastic polyurethane (TPU) to be as skin-like sensors. The prepared TPU@IL ionogel-based sensor exhibits wide strain range (0.1–500%) and fast response (96 ms) to strain stimuli. Attributed to the temperature-dependent conductivity and low freezing point of IL, the ionogels can be served as stretchable temperature sensor, containing wide operating temperature window (−40-100 °C) and high detecting accuracy (0.1 °C). Moreover, the ionogels exhibit excellent antibacterial activity. This work may inspire future research to design full-featured skin-like sensors.