Cofe2o4 Embedded Bacterial Cellulose for Flexible, Biodegradable, and Self-Powered Electromagnetic Sensor

Abstract

Self-powered flexible electromagnetic sensors based on flexible magnets are promising to be applied in wearable field. As the core component of motion sensors, flexible magnets are getting growing attentions. However, most reported flexible magnets were fabricated with non-degradable substrate materials via complicated processes. Here, a novel flexible, biodegradable and self-powered electromagnetic sensor was prepared based on CoFe 2 O 4 -embedded magnetic bacterial cellulose, which is prepared by a facile and economical in-situ co-precipitation paired with a post-process of hot-pressing and magnetizing. Magnetic CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles were synthesized in network structure of degradable bacterial cellulose for flexible composited magnetic films. Degradation experiment demonstrated that the flexible magnetic films degraded completely within 56 hours, and the left magnetic materials of CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles could be recycled. The flexible electromagnetic sensors based on composited films were tested in a customized testing platform, manifesting excellent sensing properties and stability. To deeply verify the application potential of the flexible electromagnetic sensors, an intelligent jacket, which was sewn with flexible magnetic film and copper coils was designed. It is capable of monitoring motion signals and distinguishing the motion state, proving that the biodegradable flexible electromagnetic sensor is promising to be utilized in wearable field as a kind of eco-friendly flexible sensor.

Keywords: Bacterial cellulose, CoFe2O4 nanoparticle, Flexible magnetic film, Flexible electromagnetic sensor, Intelligent jacket