Ultra-Robust, Stretchable Electrodes Based on Superamphiphobic Surface for Personal Exercise Monitoring

Abstract

Recently, the emergence of flexible electronic technology has changed people's lifestyles. In order to meet the needs of practical applications, flexible and stretchable electrodes need to be further optimized in terms of mechanical robustness, sensing performance, and stability in extreme environments. Here, we develop an ultra-robust, stretchable electrode based on in situ growing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on dopamine-modified polyurethane fabric, and gradually spray-coated by acid-modified carbon nanotubes (ACNTs) and 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTES) modified carbon nanotubes/silica hybrid nanoparticles (F-CNTs/SiO 2 ). The conductive AgNPs/ACNTs delivers excellent stretchability, and the re-entrant structure constructed by spraying F-CNTs/SiO 2 exhibits outstanding environmental tolerance. The electrode shows a skin-like Young's modulus (2.3 MPa), high tensile strength (21.7 MPa), and good gas permeability. Owing to the conductive paths of ACNTs-bridged the silver nanoparticles, the corresponding strain sensor can deliver a wide detection range of 155%, a high GF value up to 6.6 × 10 4 and a fast response time of 62 ms, especially, the good stability in extreme environments (such as -60 °C to 60 °C, corrosive liquids and non-polar liquids). Moreover, the strain sensor is successfully used to monitor high-frequency exercise and human health, indicating great potential in the practical application of flexible strain sensor.

Keywords: textile electrode, superamphiphobic, re-entrant structure, extreme environment, personal exercise monitoring