Superhydrophobic Conductive Suede Fabrics Based on Carboxylated Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Polydopamine for Wearable Pressure Sensors

Abstract

Textile-based pressure sensors have attracted considerable attention due to their potential to detect vital signals in humans, enhance sports performance, and facilitate human–machine interactions. However, practical challenges, such as unstable assembly structures, weak interfacial bonds with functional materials, and incompatibility with current established finishing technologies in production, remain significant obstacles to their widespread applications. This research explores commercially available suede fabric as a promising substrate for pressure sensing. The conductive suede sensor was readily by integrating carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (C-MWCNTs) and polydopamine (PDA) and subsequently modifying it with hexadecyltrimethoxysilane to achieve a superhydrophobic surface. The resulting suede sensor, featuring a robust PDA-(C-MWCNTs)-HDTMS chemical configuration, exhibited satisfactory hydrophobicity, excellent stability, and repeatability, capable of detecting pulse, throat movement, and daily human motions. Furthermore, the properties of the suede sensor can be well preserved after 60 min of machine washing and ultrasonic cleaning, highlighting its potential in practical applications. This study provides an environmentally stable, lightweight, and well-structured substrate for high-performance electronic textiles suitable for large-scale production.