Low-Temperature Adaptive Dual-Network MXene Nanocomposite Hydrogel as Flexible Wearable Strain Sensors

Abstract

Flexible electronic devices and conductive materials can be used as wearable sensors to detect human motions. However, the existing hydrogels generally have problems of weak tensile capacity, insufficient durability, and being easy to freeze at low temperatures, which greatly affect their application in the field of wearable devices. In this paper, glycerol was partially replaced by water as the solvent, agar was thermally dissolved to initiate acrylamide polymerization, and MXene was used as a conductive filler and initiator promoter to form the double network MXene-PAM/Agar organic hydrogel. The presence of MXene makes the hydrogel produce more conductive paths and enforces the hydrogel’s higher conductivity (1.02 S·m−1). The mechanical properties of hydrogels were enhanced by the double network structure, and the hydrogel had high stretchability (1300%). In addition, the hydrogel-based wearable strain sensor exhibited good sensitivity over a wide strain range (GF = 2.99, 0–200% strain). The strain sensor based on MXene-PAM/Agar hydrogel was capable of real-time monitoring of human movement signals such as fingers, wrists, arms, etc. and could maintain good working conditions even in cold environments (−26 °C). Hence, we are of the opinion that delving into this hydrogel holds the potential to broaden the scope of utilizing conductive hydrogels as flexible and wearable strain sensors, especially in chilly environments.

A double‐dynamic‐bond crosslinked multifunctional conductive hydrogel with self‐adhesive, remoldability, and rapid self‐healing properties for wearable sensing

“…Chen et al prepared the double network MXene‐PAM/Agar organic hydrogel, which exhibited good electrical conductivity (1.02 S m −1 ), mechanical properties and good strain sensitivity in cold environments. However, this kind of hydrogel cannot combine with good self‐healing and self‐adhesive properties, which will help to improve the continuous use ability of hydrogel 53 . Therefore, it is necessary to combine good electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, self‐healing and self‐adhesion into a hydrogel system.…”