Wearable and washable textile-based strain sensors via a single-step, environment-friendly method

Abstract

Recently, soft and stretchable strain sensors that can be incorporated into textiles have attracted significantly increasing interest for use in a diverse range of applications. However, the simple fabrication of stretchable devices that exhibit excellent sensing performance, are highly durability and are a good fit to the human body remains a challenge. Herein, we describe the fabrication of a new flexible strain sensor on a traditional polyester fabric using a one-step method that involves the reduction of graphene oxide (GO) using ascorbic acid (L-AA). The resulting textile-based strain sensors could be washed, exhibited long-term stability, and had a negative linear response that gave a good sensing response when used in wearable applications. In addition to effectively detecting human motions, the textile was modified such that it could detect ultra-large deformations. The impressive mechanical performance, durability and the ability to capture and monitor a variety of human actions and motions mean that these textile-based sensors have great potential in biomonitoring, soft co-robotics, and human-machine interactions.