4 research outputs found
Highly Stretchable, Weavable, and Washable Piezoresistive Microfiber Sensors
A key challenge in
electronic textiles is to develop an intrinsically
conductive thread of sufficient robustness and sensitivity. Here,
we demonstrate an elastomeric functionalized microfiber sensor suitable
for smart textile and wearable electronics. Unlike conventional conductive
threads, our microfiber is highly flexible and stretchable up to 120%
strain and possesses excellent piezoresistive characteristics. The
microfiber is functionalized by enclosing a conductive liquid metallic
alloy within the elastomeric microtube. This embodiment allows shape
reconfigurability and robustness, while maintaining an excellent electrical
conductivity of 3.27 ± 0.08 MS/m. By producing microfibers the
size of cotton threads (160 μm in diameter), a plurality of
stretchable tubular elastic piezoresistive microfibers may be woven
seamlessly into a fabric to determine the force location and directionality.
As a proof of concept, the conductive microfibers woven into a fabric
glove were used to obtain physiological measurements from the wrist,
elbow pit, and less accessible body parts, such as the neck and foot
instep. Importantly, the elastomeric layer protects the sensing element
from degradation. Experiments showed that our microfibers suffered
minimal electrical drift even after repeated stretching and machine
washing. These advantages highlight the unique propositions of our
wearable electronics for flexible display, electronic textile, soft
robotics, and consumer healthcare applications
Highly Stretchable, Weavable, and Washable Piezoresistive Microfiber Sensors
A key challenge in
electronic textiles is to develop an intrinsically
conductive thread of sufficient robustness and sensitivity. Here,
we demonstrate an elastomeric functionalized microfiber sensor suitable
for smart textile and wearable electronics. Unlike conventional conductive
threads, our microfiber is highly flexible and stretchable up to 120%
strain and possesses excellent piezoresistive characteristics. The
microfiber is functionalized by enclosing a conductive liquid metallic
alloy within the elastomeric microtube. This embodiment allows shape
reconfigurability and robustness, while maintaining an excellent electrical
conductivity of 3.27 ± 0.08 MS/m. By producing microfibers the
size of cotton threads (160 μm in diameter), a plurality of
stretchable tubular elastic piezoresistive microfibers may be woven
seamlessly into a fabric to determine the force location and directionality.
As a proof of concept, the conductive microfibers woven into a fabric
glove were used to obtain physiological measurements from the wrist,
elbow pit, and less accessible body parts, such as the neck and foot
instep. Importantly, the elastomeric layer protects the sensing element
from degradation. Experiments showed that our microfibers suffered
minimal electrical drift even after repeated stretching and machine
washing. These advantages highlight the unique propositions of our
wearable electronics for flexible display, electronic textile, soft
robotics, and consumer healthcare applications
Highly Stretchable, Weavable, and Washable Piezoresistive Microfiber Sensors
A key challenge in
electronic textiles is to develop an intrinsically
conductive thread of sufficient robustness and sensitivity. Here,
we demonstrate an elastomeric functionalized microfiber sensor suitable
for smart textile and wearable electronics. Unlike conventional conductive
threads, our microfiber is highly flexible and stretchable up to 120%
strain and possesses excellent piezoresistive characteristics. The
microfiber is functionalized by enclosing a conductive liquid metallic
alloy within the elastomeric microtube. This embodiment allows shape
reconfigurability and robustness, while maintaining an excellent electrical
conductivity of 3.27 ± 0.08 MS/m. By producing microfibers the
size of cotton threads (160 μm in diameter), a plurality of
stretchable tubular elastic piezoresistive microfibers may be woven
seamlessly into a fabric to determine the force location and directionality.
As a proof of concept, the conductive microfibers woven into a fabric
glove were used to obtain physiological measurements from the wrist,
elbow pit, and less accessible body parts, such as the neck and foot
instep. Importantly, the elastomeric layer protects the sensing element
from degradation. Experiments showed that our microfibers suffered
minimal electrical drift even after repeated stretching and machine
washing. These advantages highlight the unique propositions of our
wearable electronics for flexible display, electronic textile, soft
robotics, and consumer healthcare applications
Highly Stretchable, Weavable, and Washable Piezoresistive Microfiber Sensors
A key challenge in
electronic textiles is to develop an intrinsically
conductive thread of sufficient robustness and sensitivity. Here,
we demonstrate an elastomeric functionalized microfiber sensor suitable
for smart textile and wearable electronics. Unlike conventional conductive
threads, our microfiber is highly flexible and stretchable up to 120%
strain and possesses excellent piezoresistive characteristics. The
microfiber is functionalized by enclosing a conductive liquid metallic
alloy within the elastomeric microtube. This embodiment allows shape
reconfigurability and robustness, while maintaining an excellent electrical
conductivity of 3.27 ± 0.08 MS/m. By producing microfibers the
size of cotton threads (160 μm in diameter), a plurality of
stretchable tubular elastic piezoresistive microfibers may be woven
seamlessly into a fabric to determine the force location and directionality.
As a proof of concept, the conductive microfibers woven into a fabric
glove were used to obtain physiological measurements from the wrist,
elbow pit, and less accessible body parts, such as the neck and foot
instep. Importantly, the elastomeric layer protects the sensing element
from degradation. Experiments showed that our microfibers suffered
minimal electrical drift even after repeated stretching and machine
washing. These advantages highlight the unique propositions of our
wearable electronics for flexible display, electronic textile, soft
robotics, and consumer healthcare applications