Multifunctional polyimide nanofibrous aerogel sensor for motion monitoring and airflow perception

Abstract

Aerogel sensors have garnered significant attention within the realm of recent academic research. However, the challenge of simultaneously maintaining superior mechanical performance and expanding the range of potential applications in varying environmental conditions has yet to be overcome. This study presents a novel approach for fabricating a polyimide nanofibrous aerogel (PINA) using direct electrospinning, which exhibits exceptional mechanical durability and lightweight properties. Subsequently, a flexible wearable sensor was developed through the deposition of pyrrole (Py) on the PINA substrate, with the purpose of monitoring both respiratory health and everyday activities. Furthermore, PINA@PPy possesses the capability to function as a wearable apparatus capable of sound detection. This feature enables the device to gather sound signals and subsequently discern various types of natural acoustic activities. More importantly, the prepared sensor can be used to monitor respiration and diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), showing high sensitivity to weak airflow at different angles. The PINA@PPy airflow sensor has an ultralow detection limit (0.0027 m/s−1), rapid respiratory response/recovery (0.64/1.18 s), and multi-angle airflow response (0°, 45°, and 90°), providing a convenient and practical method for real-time respiratory monitoring.