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Research Article

Wearable CNT/Ti3C2Tx MXene/PDMS composite strain sensor with enhanced stability for real-time human healthcare monitoring

Xiaowen Xu1, Yucheng Chen1, Pei He1( ), Song Wang1, Kai Ling1, Longhui Liu1, Pengfei Lei2, Xianjun Huang3, Hu Zhao4, Jianyun Cao4, Junliang Yang1( )
Hunan Key Laboratory for Super Microstructure and Ultrafast Process, School of Physics and Electronics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Hunan Engineering Research Center of Biomedical Metal and Ceramic Implants, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87# Xiangya Road, Changsha 410007, China
College of Electronic Science, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410072, China
Department of Materials, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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Abstract

Strain sensors with good stability are vital to the development of wearable healthcare monitoring systems. However, the design of strain sensor with both duration stability and environmental stability is still a challenge. In this work, we propose an ultra-stable and washable strain sensor by embedding a coupled composite film of carbon nanotube (CNT) and Ti3C2Tx MXene into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. The composite strain sensor with embedded microstructure and uneven surface makes it conformal to skin, while the CNT/MXene sensing layer exhibits a resistance sensitive to strain. This sensor shows reliable responses at different frequencies and with long-term cycling durability (over 1,000 cycles). Meanwhile, the CNT/MXene/PDMS composite strain sensor provides the advantages of superior anti-interference to temperature change and water washing. The results demonstrate less than 10% resistance changes as the temperature rises from -20 to 80 °C or after sonication in water for 120 min, respectively. The composite sensor is applied to monitor human joint motions, such as bending of finger, wrist and elbow. Moreover, the simultaneous monitoring of the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal and joint movement while riding a sports bicycle is demonstrated, enabling the great potential of the as-fabricated sensor in real-time human healthcare monitoring.

Keywords

strain sensorMXenewearable electronicshealthcare monitoring

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Nano Research
Volume 14 Issue 8,
August 2021
Pages 2875-2883
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-021-3536-3
Cite this article:
Xu X, Chen Y, He P, et al. Wearable CNT/Ti3C2Tx MXene/PDMS composite strain sensor with enhanced stability for real-time human healthcare monitoring. Nano Research, 2021, 14(8): 2875-2883. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-021-3536-3
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Received: 17 March 2021
Revised: 20 April 2021
Accepted: 22 April 2021
Published: 22 May 2021
© Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2021
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