Sensor Applications Research Articles

3D Network Spacer-Embedded Flexible Iontronic Pressure Sensor Array with High Sensitivity over a Broad Sensing Range.

Microstructure construction is a common strategy for enhancing the sensitivity of flexible pressure sensors, but it typically requires complex manufacturing techniques. In this study, we develop a flexible iontronic pressure sensor (FIPS) by embedding an isolated three-dimensional network spacer (3DNS) between an ionic gel and a flexible Ti3C2Tx MXene electrode, thereby avoiding complex microstructure construction techniques. By leveraging substantial deformation of the 3DNS and the high capacitance density resulting from the electrical double layer effect, the sensor exhibits high sensitivity (87.4 kPa-1) over a broad high-pressure range (400-1000 kPa) while maintaining linearity (R2 = 0.998). Additionally, the FIPS demonstrates a rapid response time of 46 ms, a low limit of detection at 50 Pa, and excellent stability over 10 000 cycles under a high pressure of 600 kPa. As practical demonstrations, the FIPS can effectively monitor human motion such as elbow bending and assist a robotic gripper in accurately sensing gripping tasks. Moreover, a real-time, adaptive 7 × 7 sensing array system is built and can recognize both numeric and alphabetic characters. Our design philosophy can be extended for fabricating pressure sensors with high sensing performance without involving complex techniques, facilitating the applications of flexible sensors in human motion monitoring, robotic tactile sensing, and human-machine interaction.

Ultra-Stretchable, Adhesive, Conductive, and Antifreezing Multinetwork Borate Ester-Based Hydrogel for Wearable Strain Sensor and VOC Absorption.

Hydrogels based on borate ester bonds exhibit remarkable tensile strength and self-healing ability, which make them a promising material for various biological research and strain sensor applications. However, in order to meet the practical application of hydrogel strain sensors, they must also show high conductivity, frost resistance, and proper adhesion, which is still a continuous challenge. Herein, a triple network hydrogel was prepared using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as the first network, ethylene imine polymer (PEI) as the second network, and poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) copolymer (denoted as P(AM-Co-AA)) as the third network. 3-Carboxy-4-fluorophenylboronic acid (CFBS) was used as the cross-linking agent, glycerol (GL) was added to improve low-temperature resistance, and sodium chloride (NaCl) was incorporated to enhance electrical conductivity. The resulting PVA-CFBS@PEI@P(AM-Co-AA) triple network hydrogel exhibited impressive mechanical properties, including ultra tensile strength (4100%, 266.8 kPa), high toughness (6.5 MJ/m3), and low-temperature resistance (-60 °C). Additionally, it demonstrated high conductivity (σ = 1.83 mS/cm). The incorporation of CFBS endowed the hydrogel with excellent self-healing ability, while GL improved low-temperature resistance and strain sensing sensitivity (gauge factor (GF) = 2.8 (0-300%), GF = 5.6 (300-600%), GF = 8.7 (600-1000%)). The prepared hydrogel sensor can repetitively detect and differentiate between a wide range of human activities such as joint movements, frowning, and smiling. Additionally, the hydrogel demonstrated favorable mechanical properties at -20 °C (good adhesion, tensile strength: 1169.8%, 1.2 MPa; conductivity: 0.71 mS/cm, and strain sensing coefficient: GF = 1.3), making it suitable for applications in low-temperature environments. Furthermore, it also functions as an exceptional adsorbent, capable of selectively absorbing volatile organic compounds at high capacity (e.g., methanol: 1.80 g/g; acetone: 1.50 g/g).

Giant lateral shift in single mode cavity containing four-level sodium atomic medium

Abstract In this paper, a four-level sodium atomic medium coupled to a single-mode cavity is used to investigate the Goos-Ha¨nchen (GH) shift. Using the collective phase of the control fields and intensity of Rabi oscillation, the positive as well as negative GH-shift in transmission and reflection beams are examined. In the transmission beam, a maximum GH-shift of ±6λ is observed. Furthermore, GH-shift in both reflection and transmission beams in a four-level sodium atomic medium is significantly enhanced by photon number density as well as by the cavity coupling strength. By varying the collective phase of the control fields and the probe field frequency, GH-shift in reflection exhibits a maximum value of ±2λ. Our findings may open up significant applications in micro-optics, sensors, photonic crystals and nano-processor technology.

Self-Powered Flexible Sensors: From Fundamental Mechanisms toward Diverse Applications

Abstract Today, human life is inseparable from energy for clothing, food, housing, use and travelling, however, traditional resources can no longer meet our energy needs today. Self-powered sensing devices that can run consistently and sustainably without a source of power from the outside are top choices for new energy sources with their unique advantages. Based on advances in the field of materials and manufacturing techniques, it is able to autonomously extract energy from different sources. In this review, we focus on reviewing the current state of research on self-powered wearable sensors, providing a concise overview of energy harvesting technologies, energy conversion mechanisms, structural or material innovations, energy storage and processing platforms. Then，experimental advances in different energy sources are presented, showing their underlying mechanisms, and the potential for energy acquisition. In addition, we discuss applications of self-powered flexible sensors in medicine, sports and food. Despite considerable achievements in this field, widespread commercialization will necessitate enhanced sensor detection abilities, improved design factors for adaptable devices, and a harmony between sensitivity and standardisation.

Self-referencing refractive index sensor based on graphene-assisted TAMM plasmon cavity resonance.

In this Letter, we report TAMM plasmonic polaritons (TPPs) generated by few-layer MoS2 with a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) structure in the terahertz frequency region by utilizing the transfer matrix method (TMM) and finite element method (FEM). By inserting a mono-graphene embedded cavity layer, we realize the graphene-induced mode strong coupling (GCM), which is a strategy of a refractive index sensor by optimizing the cavity layer spacing. By adjusting the chemical potential of graphene, GCM is modulated. μc = 0.1 eV and μc = 0.9 eV are selected as the on-off-state parameters, respectively. The difference in reflectance spectra presents a differential signal and a self-reference operation. The sensitivity of the designed refractive index sensor is 7.8 THz/RIU and a figure of merit (FOM) of 882 RUI-1 can be obtained. The proposed structure in our Letter demonstrates its potential application in high-performance self-reference refractive index sensors.

Influence of the annealing temperature on the self-powered CuO/ZnO NRs heterojunction photodetector

In this study, the fabrication and comprehensive analysis of CuO/ZnO nanorod (NR) heterojunction photodetectors were carried out, focusing on the influence of annealing temperatures (400 °C, 500 °C, and 600 °C) on their structural, optical, and electrical characteristics. The ZnO nanorods were synthesized via a hydrothermal method, followed by a spin-coating deposition of CuO thin films. The resultant heterojunctions were subjected to different annealing treatments to determine the optimal conditions for enhanced photodetector performance. Characterization techniques such as Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive x-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), x-ray Diffraction (XRD), and UV–vis spectroscopy were employed to assess the quality and composition of the heterostructures. The analyses revealed a polycrystalline structure with monoclinic phases for CuO and wurtzite phases for ZnO. Photodetectors annealed at 400 °C exhibited the highest performance metrics, achieving a photoresponse ratio (Iph/Idark) of 26.3, photosensitivity (Sph%) of 2531.6, and a specific detectivity (D*) of 4.58 × 1010 Jones under 405 nm UV light illumination. These devices also demonstrated rapid response times of 0.8 s without any external bias, indicating effective exciton separation and charge transport facilitated by the built-in electric field at the heterojunction interface. The study underscores the critical role of annealing temperature in optimizing the photodetector properties of CuO/ZnO NRs, positioning these self-powered devices as promising candidates for future ultraviolet sensor applications in optoelectronics.

Insight of Employing Molecular Junctions for Sensor Applications.

Molecular junctions (MJs) exhibit distinct charge transport properties and have the potential to become the next generation of electronic devices. Advancing molecular electronics for practical uses, such as sensors, is crucial to propel its progress to the next level. In this review, we discussed how MJs can serve as a sensor for detecting a wide range of analytes with exceptional sensitivity and specificity. The primary advances and potential of molecular junctions for the various kinds of sensors including photosensors, explosives (DNTs, TNTs), cancer biomarker detection (DNA, mRNA), COVID detection, biogases (CO, NO, NH), environmental pH, practical chemicals, and water pollutants are listed and examined here. The fundamental ideas of molecular junction formation as well as the sensing mechanism have been examined here. This review demonstrates that MJ-based sensors hold significant promise for real-time and on-site detection. It provides valuable insights into current research and outlines potential future directions for advancing molecular junction-based sensors for practical applications.

Solution plasma synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon dots from glucosamines: Comparative fluorescence modulation for dopamine detection

The intriguing fluorescence characteristics of carbon dots (CDs) have led to many sensor applications, particularly for dopamine (DA), a molecule linked to various diseases. This study prepares CDs from glucose and glucosamine (nitrogen-free and nitrogen-containing precursors) using a simple solution plasma process (SPP). We explore how nitrogen elements and counterions in glucosamine (hydrochloride and sulfate) affect CD properties and their ability to modulate fluorescence for DA detection. Glucosamine offers three advantages over glucose: (i) single-step CD synthesis via SPP, (ii) enhanced fluorescence of CDs, and (iii) improved fluorescence response to DA. We investigate the DA detection capabilities of N,S-CDs (from glucosamine sulfate) and N,Cl-CDs (from glucosamine hydrochloride). Both can sense DA with distinct photoluminescence responses. N,S-CDs show selectivity and fluorescence brightening upon DA interaction, with a detection limit of 33.05 μM. N,Cl-CDs demonstrate higher sensitivity with a lower detection limit of 0.1212 μM through fluorescence quenching. Silver ions (Ag+) may also contribute to N,Cl-CDs quenching; however, the observed color change to gray due to silver nanoparticle (AgNP) formation helps pinpoint the quenching substance. The varied photoluminescence responses arise from different surface functional groups: N,S-CDs have amino-rich surfaces, while N,Cl-CDs have conjugated carbonyl-rich surfaces. This study illustrates the mechanisms of DA detection and AgNP formation, suggesting the potential of CDs in medical diagnostics as selective tools for disease diagnosis. Additionally, we compare the DA sensing methodology of our CDs with existing literature, highlighting the advantages of our sensor.

Tailoring of Ultrasmall NiMnO3 Nanoparticles: Optimizing Synthesis Conditions and Solvent Effects

Nickel manganese oxide (NiMnO3) combines magnetic and dielectric properties, making it a promising material for sensor and supercapacitor applications, as well as for catalytic water splitting. The efficiency of its utilization is notably influenced by particle size. In this study, we investigate the influence of thermal treatment parameters on the phase composition of products from alkali co-precipitation of nickel and manganese (II) ions and identify optimal conditions for synthesizing phase-pure nickel manganese oxide. Ultrafine nanoparticles of NiMnO3 (with sizes as small as 2 nm) are obtained via liquid-phase ultrasonic dispersion, exhibiting a narrow size distribution. A systematic exploration of the solvent nature (water, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide) on the efficiency of ultrasonic dispersion of NiMnO3 nanoparticles is provided. It is demonstrated that particle size is influenced not only by absorbed acoustic power, dependent on the physical properties of the used solvent (boiling temperature, gas solubility, viscosity, density) but also by the chemical stability of the solvent under prolonged ultrasonic treatment. Our findings provide insights for designing ultrasonic treatment protocols for nanoparticle dispersions with tailored particle sizes.

Acetone Sensors Based on Al-Coated and Ni-Doped Copper Oxide Nanocrystalline Thin Films.

Acetone detection is of significant importance in various industries, from cosmetics to pharmaceuticals, bioengineering, and paints. Sensor manufacturing involves the use of different semiconductor materials as well as different metals for doping and functionalization, allowing them to achieve advanced or unique properties in different sensor applications. In the healthcare field, these sensors play a crucial role in the non-invasive diagnosis of various diseases, offering a potential way to monitor metabolic conditions by analyzing respiration. This article presents the synthesis method, using chemical solutions and rapid thermal annealing technology, to obtain Al-functionalized and Ni-doped copper oxide (Al/CuO:Ni) nanostructured thin films for biosensors. The nanocrystalline thin films are subjected to a thorough characterization, with examination of the morphological properties by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results reveal notable changes in the surface morphology and structure following different treatments, providing insight into the mechanism of function and selectivity of these nanostructures for gases and volatile compounds. The study highlights the high selectivity of developed Al/CuO:Ni nanostructures towards acetone vapors at different concentrations from 1 ppm to 1000 ppm. Gas sensitivity is evaluated over a range of operating temperatures, indicating optimum performance at 300 °C and 350 °C with the maximum sensor signal (S) response obtained being 45% and 50%, respectively, to 50 ppm gas concentration. This work shows the high potential of developed technology for obtaining Al/CuO:Ni nanostructured thin films as next-generation materials for improving the sensitivity and selectivity of acetone sensors for practical applications as breath detectors in biomedical diagnostics, in particular for diabetes monitoring. It also emphasizes the importance of these sensors in ensuring industrial safety by preventing adverse health and environmental effects of exposure to acetone.

Preparation of aerogels with SBS@rGO structure by Pickering emulsion method for innovative applications in pressure sensors

Pressure sensors based on graphene conductive fillers show great promise for application in the field of smart wearable devices. The SBS@rGO structured aerogel sensors covered herein were prepared by the Pickering emulsion method based on a solution of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) dispersion. The mechanical properties of SBS@rGO aerogel were tested with 100 independent loading-unloading cycles in a graded compressive strain range of 10–40 %. The results indicate that the SBS@rGO aerogel have fast and slightly destructive resilience after unloading at low compressive strains (ε ≤ 30 %). Moreover, the presence of rGO endowed SBS@rGO with pressure sensing properties such as high electrical conductivity (2.294 S/m), high sensitivity (0.016 kPa−1 at 6.36–100 kPa), short signal response time (60 ms) and recovery time (30 ms). The SBS@rGO pressure sensors were integrated into shoe soles to simulate walking scenes, whose response signals had excellent reproducibility and could be differentiated according to three different walking states. The potential and feasibility of SBS@rGO aerogel as wearable flexible pressure sensors has been demonstrated.

Unique framework effect induced by uniform silk fibroin dynamic nanospheres enables multiscale hydrogel with outstanding elastic resilience and strain sensing performance

It is a significant challenge to obtain hydrogels simultaneously with low tensile energy dissipation, high compressive resilience and long durability. Herein, the uniform dynamic nanospheres (Sil-4H0.75) derived from 4-Hydroxybutyl acrylate glycidyl ether grafted silk fibroin is designed to overcome this issue. Due to its uniform and dynamic characteristic, Sil-4H0.75 could endow hydrogel with homogeneous multiscale structure and produce unique framework effect. Thus, transparent Sil-4H0.75 crosslinked acrylamide hydrogel doped with Ag nanowires APS3.75%/AgNW0.1 exhibits a high stretchability (1260 %) and outstanding elastic resilience. The tensile energy dissipation ratio maintains a low value of 9 % across a wide 800 % strain range. A high compression resilience ratio of 92.2 % is kept after ten compression cycles under 90 % compressive strain. The orderly AgNWs motion guided by framework effect also make it be used as both tensile and compressive sensors and exhibits high gauge factor of 7.35, outstanding compression sensitivity of 30.379 kPa−1 and excellent durability (up to 2000 cycles). The detection or other applications based on both two sensing modes are also demonstrated. In a word, this work affords a general strategy to achieve high-performance hydrogel based on uniform dynamic nanospheres which exhibits great potential in the applications of flexible wearable strain sensors.

Electrostatic fence induced assembly of low-concentration colloidal nanospheres to form liquid photonic crystals

Liquid photonic crystals (LPCs) have great application potential in sensors, anti-counterfeiting materials and detection due to their sensitive dynamic responsiveness. Currently, the preparation of LPCs mainly relies on the supersaturation of colloidal nanospheres. However, the supersaturation method usually fails to obtain LPCs based on low-concentration colloidal nanospheres. In turn, the use of high-concentration colloidal nanospheres results in poor mobility of LPCs, which makes them inappropriate for subsequent utilization in responsive systems. In this study, self-assembly of LPCs with vibrant structural colors is achieved through the electrostatic fence effect by introducing an anionic carboxylate-containing polymer as an inducer into the system of low-concentration negatively charged colloidal nanospheres (≥1.25 wt%). It is shown that the anionic carboxylate groups on the inducer molecules and the appropriate molecular chain length are the decisive factors for the inducing effect. The obtained LPCs exhibit a typical non-close-packed structure with a face-centered cubic arrangement of nanospheres. The nearest inter-nanosphere surface distance is 12.10 nm, and the farthest one is as long as 40.30 nm. The LPCs possess good dynamic recovery performance and sensitive optical response characteristics, which are conducive to application in responsive optical sensors directly or after filling.

An Overview of Microorganisms Immobilized in a Gel Structure for the Production of Precursors, Antibiotics, and Valuable Products.

Using free microorganisms for industrial processes has some limitations, such as the extensive consumption of substrates for growth, significant sensitivity to the microenvironment, and the necessity of separation from the product and, therefore, the cyclic process. It is widely acknowledged that confining or immobilizing cells in a matrix or support structure enhances enzyme stability, facilitates recycling, enhances rheological resilience, lowers bioprocess costs, and serves as a fundamental prerequisite for large-scale applications. This report summarizes the various cell immobilization methods, including several synthetic (polyvinylalcohol, polyethylenimine, polyacrylates, and Eudragit) and natural (gelatin, chitosan, alginate, cellulose, agar-agar, carboxymethylcellulose, and other polysaccharides) polymeric materials in the form of thin films, hydrogels, and cryogels. Advancements in the production of well-known antibiotics like penicillin and cephalosporin by various strains were discussed. Additionally, we highlighted cutting-edge research related to strain producers of peptide-based antibiotics (polymyxin B, Subtilin, Tyrothricin, varigomycin, gramicidin S, friulimicin, and bacteriocin), glusoseamines, and polyene derivatives. Crosslinking agents, especially covalent linkers, significantly affect the activity and stability of biocatalysts (penicillin G acylase, penicillinase, deacetoxycephalosporinase, L-asparaginase, β-glucosidase, Xylanase, and urease). The molecular weight of polymers is an important parameter influencing oxygen and nutrient diffusion, the kinetics of hydrogel formation, rigidity, rheology, elastic moduli, and other mechanical properties crucial for long-term utilization. A comparison of stability and enzymatic activity between immobilized enzymes and their free native counterparts was explored. The discussion was not limited to recent advancements in the biopharmaceutical field, such as microorganism or enzyme immobilization, but also extended to methods used in sensor and biosensor applications. In this study, we present data on the advantages of cell and enzyme immobilization over microorganism (bacteria and fungi) suspension states to produce various bioproducts and metabolites-such as antibiotics, enzymes, and precursors-and determine the efficiency of immobilization processes and the optimal conditions and process parameters to maximize the yield of the target products.

Soft sensor modeling method and application based on TSECIT2FNN-LSTM

To address the issue of low accuracy in soft sensor modeling of key variables caused by multi-variable coupling and parameter sensitivity in complex processes, this paper introduces a TSK-type-based self-evolving compensatory interval type-2 fuzzy Long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network (TSECIT2FNN-LSTM) soft sensor model. The proposed TSECIT2FNN-LSTM integrates the LSTM neural network with the interval type-2 fuzzy inference system to address long-term dependencies in sequence data by utilizing the gate mechanism of the LSTM neural network. The TSECIT2FNN-LSTM structure learning algorithm uses the firing strength of the network rule antecedent to decide whether to generate new rules to improve the rationality of the network structure. TSECIT2FNN-LSTM parameter learning utilizes the gradient descent method to optimize network parameters. However, unlike other interval type-2 fuzzy neural network gradient calculation processes, the error term in the LSTM node parameter gradient of TSECIT2FNN-LSTM is propagated backwards in the time dimension. Additionally, the error term is simultaneously transferred to the upper layer network to enhance network prediction accuracy and memory capabilities. The TSECIT2FNN-LSTM soft sensor model is utilized to predict the alcohol concentration in wine and the nitrogen oxide emission in gas turbines. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed TSECIT2FNN-LSTM soft sensing model achieves higher prediction accuracy compared to other models.

PVC/CNT Electrospun Composites: Morphology and Thermal and Impedance Behavior.

Due to their mechanical robustness and chemical resistance, composite electrospun membranes based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are suitable for sensor applications. Aiming to improve the electrical characteristics of these membranes, this work investigated the effects of the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to PVC electrospun membranes, in terms of morphology and thermal and impedance behavior. Transmission electron microscopy images evidenced that most of the nanotubes were encapsulated within the fibers and oriented along them, while field-emission scanning electron micrographs revealed that the membranes consisted of uniform fibers with an average diameter of 339 ± 31 nm, regardless of the addition of the carbon nanotubes. With respect to the neat resin, the addition of nanotubes caused a significant lowering of the glass transition temperature (up to 20 °C) and a marked change in the second degradation step of PVC. Nyquist plots from electrical impedance spectra showed a charge transfer resistance (RCT) of 38 and 40 MΩ for neat PVC and PVC/CNT 3 wt.% membranes, respectively, indicating that, in the dry state, the encapsulation of CNTs in the fibers and the high porosity of the membranes prevented the formation of a percolation network, increasing the electrical resistance. In the wet state, however, there was a greater change in the impedance behavior, decreasing the resistance RCT to 4.5 and 1.1 MΩ, for neat PVC and PVC/CNT 3 wt.% membranes, respectively. The results of this study, showing a significant variation in impedance behavior between dry and wet membranes, are relevant for the development of various types of sensors based on PVC composites.

Graphene‐Based Pressure Sensor Application in Non‐Invasive Pulse Wave Velocity Continuous Estimation

Graphene‐Based Pressure Sensor Application in Non‐Invasive Pulse Wave Velocity Continuous Estimation

One‐Step Room Temperature Synthesis of Printable Carbon Quantum Dots Ink for Visual Encryption and High‐Performance Photodetector

AbstractCarbon quantum dots (CQDs) have emerged as promising materials for optoelectronic applications and have garnered much interest as potential competitors to conventional inorganic or hybrid semiconductor quantum dots because of carbon's intrinsic merits of high stability, low cost, and environment‐friendliness. The ability of easy formulation of functional ink of CQDs is necessary for the development of industrial‐scale, reliable, inexpensive printing/coating processes, for its full exploitation in the ever‐growing class of applications in sensors, optoelectronics, and energy storage and conversion. Here a facile one‐step room‐temperature synthesis of printable, fluorescent CQD ink is demonstrated. The as‐synthesized fluorescent CQD ink is used for invisible fingerprint stamps, printing of micro‐patterns, and soft lithographic patterning with a resolution down to 1.5 µm. This functional CQD ink is also used to fabricate a high‐performance CQD‐ZnO heterojunction ultraviolet (UV) photodetector with a photo‐responsivity of 3.85 A W−1, detectivity of 6.78 × 1010 Jones, and an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 15.3%. The enhanced device performance can be attributed to CQD's high photocurrent generation efficiency and rational combination of the asymmetric electrode materials. This work enables a high‐temperature stable CQD fluorescent ink synthesis method to fulfill the processing requirements of printing and soft lithographic patterning for visual encryption and optoelectronics.

Preparation of cellulose-based three-network ionic gel and its application in human sensor

AbstractA lignin-embedded nanocellulose (LCNC) hydrogel, derived from repurposed wheat straw biomass, was fabricated through a ZnCl2-mediated soaking process. This innovative hydrogel leverages acrylamide/acrylic acid (AM/AA) monomers as a polymerizable deep eutectic solvent (PDES), enhancing its structural integrity. Notably, the hydrogel exhibits remarkable properties, including a minimal water loss rate of less than 5 %, a peak compressive stress of 0.28 MPa, Young's modulus of 0.015 MPa, a minimum impedance of 500 Ω, and an impressive conductivity of 8.0 × 10−4 S/m. Furthermore, when integrated into a sensor, it demonstrates a sensitivity factor (GF) of 0.08 KPa−1. Selecting this advanced hydrogel as the foundation for a piezoresistive stress sensor, we investigated its capability to detect subtle bodily motions. Our findings underscore the sensor's remarkable versatility; it not only promptly registers significant arm and wrist movements but also meticulously captures delicate throat movements during swallowing, finger flexion, and even the weight distribution when gripping heavier objects. This (PAM-PAA)/LCNC/SA-Zn2+ hydrogel-based sensor holds immense potential for many applications, including wearable technology, smart devices, health monitoring systems, and human motion recognition platforms. Its ability to accurately track and interpret a range of bodily movements and pressures underscores its significance in advancing the field of personal health tracking and interactive technologies.

Flexible and transparent leaf-vein electrodes fabricated by liquid film rupture self-assembly AgNWs for application of heaters and pressure sensors

The leaf veins with hierarchically interconnected network structures have great potential as self-assembly templates for transparent and flexible electrodes. In this paper, a liquid membrane ruptured assisted AgNWs self-assembly method was adopted to obtain conductive veins, which show a low sheet resistance of 3.6Ω/□ and a high transparency of 79 % at a minimal materials waste. The figure of merit of conductive veins was as high as 433Ω-1 and can be further increased by increasing the number of soaking because the light transmittance is nearly immune to the AgNWs layer number. The veins maintained a good electrical conductivity even after bending 10,000 times at a 2 mm radius of curvature and exhibited a good corrosion resistance under harsh conditions. Heaters based on the conductive veins are shown as application examples. A high temperature of 104 °C was achieved at a low voltage of 2 V, which is enough to heat cold water. They still have good heating properties even in the bending state or tensile state. Furthermore, pressure sensors based on the conductive veins were fabricated as examples of wearable devices. The sensor exhibits a high sensitivity of 3.8 kPa−1 in the low-pressure range (0–15 kPa) and 17.4 kPa−1 in the high pressure range (15–50.96 kPa). It can monitor human actions such as finger bending, finger taping, throat swallowing and wrist pulse in real-time, which has promising potential for motion monitoring and information encryption applications.