Integration of Different Graphene Nanostructures with PDMS to Form Wearable Sensors

Abstract

This paper presents a substantial review of the fabrication and implementation of graphene-PDMS-based composites for wearable sensing applications. Graphene is a pivotal nanomaterial which is increasingly being used to develop multifunctional sensors due to their enhanced electrical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics. It has been able to generate devices with excellent performances in terms of sensitivity and longevity. Among the polymers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has been one of the most common ones that has been used in biomedical applications. Certain attributes, such as biocompatibility and the hydrophobic nature of PDMS, have led the researchers to conjugate it in graphene sensors as substrates or a polymer matrix. The use of these graphene/PDMS-based sensors for wearable sensing applications has been highlighted here. Different kinds of electrochemical and strain-sensing applications have been carried out to detect the physiological signals and parameters of the human body. These prototypes have been classified based on the physical nature of graphene used to formulate the sensors. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives of these graphene/PDMS-based wearable sensors are explained in the final part of the paper.

Wearable Sensors for Healthcare: Fabrication to Application

“…When these energy-harvesting devices are used in electrochemical and strain-sensing applications, their capability is greatly tested in real-time conditions. Due to their enhanced electromechanical characteristics, the use of nanotechnology in developing wearable sensors has recently been growing rapidly [ 72 ]. Due to their increased physical strength, their uses as photovoltaics [ 184 ], thermo-photovoltaics [ 185 ], piezoelectric sensors [ 186 ], and ferroelectric sensors [ 187 ], thermoelectric sensors [ 188 ] and magneto-mechanical sensors [ 189 ] can assist in energy harvesting applications.…”

“…Among these uses, their deployment in the biomedical sector has been pivotal in recent years. Their utilization involves exploitation in two ways, including external attachment and implantation as implantable sensors [ 72 ]. Each method has its advantages, where the sensors adhere to their working principles for a particular application.…”

Novel Surfactant-Induced MWCNTs/PDMS-Based Nanocomposites for Tactile Sensing Applications

“…As a replacement, these sensors used organic, inorganic and synthetic polymers to form the substrates. Some of the common polymers used to form the flexible sensors are polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) [16,17], polyethylene terephthalate (PET) [18,19], polyimide (PI) [20,21] and polyaniline (PI) [22,23]. Nowadays, conductive polymers like poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) [24,25] are also being used to maintain the electrical conductivity and mechanical flexibility of the resultant prototypes.…”

Polydimethylsiloxane Sponge-Supported Metal Nanoparticles as Reusable Catalyst for Continuous Flow Reactions

“…An alternative and interesting support material is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). PDMS is one of the most used silicon-based organic polymers due to its high versatility, lower price, and excellent properties, leading this polymer to be used in many applications [44][45][46]. Regarding the use as a catalyst support material, PDMS offers a great number of possibilities being that the PDMS sponges are most used as the larger the surface, the more nanoparticles adhere, and the more efficient the catalyst will be.…”