Strong, high stretchable and ultrasensitive SEBS/CNTs hybrid fiber for high-performance strain sensor

Abstract

Fiber-shaped strain sensors with flexibility and stretchability have attracted more and more attention due to their potential applications in health monitoring and wearable electronic devices. However, simultaneously achieving high sensitivity, wide response range, and high stretchability remains a major challenge. In this work, polystyrene-block-poly (ethylene butylene)-blockpolystyrene (SEBS)/CNT hybrid fibers with high electrical conductivity, high strength and break elongation were fabricated by a simple and scalable wet-spinning method. The hybrid fiber-based strain sensor possesses ultra-wide sensing range (471%), high sensitivity (Gage factor of 368), fast response time (270 ms), and excellent reliability and stability. Moreover, the SEBS/CNT hybrid fiber sensor can accurately monitor both large and subtle human motion in real time, demonstrating its potential application in health monitoring.