Electronic skins (E-skins) capable of biomechanical/bioelectrical signal acquisition are intensively pursued for human-centered healthcare of daily life. For practical use, it is highly desired, yet challenging, to mass-produce E-skins that are soft and breathable for wearing comfort, skin-adhesive for robust signal acquisition, multi-signal sensing for enhanced healthcare data. Herein, a scalable fabrication strategy for a bioinspired E-skin (SPRABE-skin) with a multi-layered architecture is reported that integrates skin-like softness, self-protection, self-adhesion, breathability, and bimodal sensing in a single patch. The fibrous thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) scaffold endows the SPRABE-skin with tissue-like softness (Young's modulus of 3.36 MPa) and stretchability, good permeability to water vapor, and self-protection against adverse loading events. A strain sensing layer composed of MXene-carbon [email protected] ([email protected]) composition exhibits ultra-high sensitivity in a wide sensing range (gauge factor at strain of 485% reaches 63 494). An electrode layer made of MXene-waterborne polyurethane (MXene-WPU) provides a highly adhesive electrode-skin interface, which enables the acquisition of biopotentials, such as electrocardiograph (ECG), electromyograph (EMG), electroencephalo-graph (EEG), with improved fidelity even under various dynamic interferences. Finally, a SPRABE-skin based human-centered healthcare system is demonstrated that realizes the wireless, long-duration, and dynamic monitoring of ECG and running activities. 

A Stretchable, Breathable, And Self‐Adhesive Electronic Skin with Multimodal Sensing Capabilities for Human‐Centered Healthcare

High-performance fibrous strain sensor with synergistic sensing layer for human motion recognition and robot control

Flexible strain sensors with high sensitivity and high mechanical robustness are highly desirable for their accurate and long-term reliable service in wearable human-machine interfaces. However, the current application of flexible strain sensors has to face a trade-off between high sensitivity and high mechanical robustness. The most representative examples are micro/nano crack-based sensors and serpentine meander-based sensors. The former one typically shows high sensitivity but limited robustness, while the latter is on the contrary. Herein, ultra-robust and sensitive flexible strain sensors are developed by crack-like pathway customization and ingenious modulation of low/high-resistance regions on a serpentine meander structure. The sensors show high cyclic stability (10 000 cycles), strong tolerance to harsh environments, high gauge factor (>1000) comparable with that of the crack-based sensor, and fast response time (<58 ms). Finally, the sensors are integrated into a wearable sign language translation system, which is wireless, low-cost, and lightweight. Recognition rates of over 98% are demonstrated for the translation of 21 sign languages with the assistance of machine learning. This system facilitates achieving barrier-free communication between signers and nonsigners and offers broad application prospects in gesture interaction. 

Ultra‐Robust and Sensitive Flexible Strain Sensor for Real‐Time and Wearable Sign Language Translation

Electrospun Thermoplastic Polyurethane Membrane Decorated with Carbon Nanotubes: A Platform of Flexible Strain Sensors for Human Motion Monitoring

Fiber‐based multimodal sensors with electrical/optical signals are highly desired for next‐generation wearable electronics. Despite the remarkable progress in this area, achieving large‐scale knittable, washable, and self‐healing performance in fiber‐based multimodal sensors simultaneously remains a great challenge. Here, a smart fiber capable of exhibiting piezoresistive/luminescent properties based on an H‐bonding connected multilayered core–shell nanostructure is developed. The core principle of this design involves constructing strong interfacial interactions between the fiber layers, which results in a sensor with high sensitivity (gauge factor = 12383500), exceptional water resistance, and robust self‐healing properties (tensile strength 30.9 MPa, healing efficiency 72.9%). Unlike traditional fiber‐based sensors where elaborate nanostructures are prone to shedding during knitting, this strategy enables the fiber sensors with excellent knittability to be patterned in the fabric, improving both optical and electrical sensitivities. This work is anticipated to make a significant contribution to the further development of wearable electronic products and visual human–computer interaction electronic devices.

Large‐Area Knittable, Wash‐Durable, and Healable Smart Fibers for Dual‐Modal Sensing Applications

Hollow-porous fiber-shaped strain sensor with multiple wrinkle-crack microstructure for strain visualization and wind monitoring

Benefitting from the wearability, ductility and portability, flexible and stretchable strain sensors display a more extensive field of applications than traditional sensors in terms of medical diagnosis, smart home, environmental monitoring and so on. However, the critical sensing performances, such as sensitivity, sensing range, stability and detection limit of flexible strain sensors still need to be improved. Microstructural optimization has been considered as an efficient strategy for tuning the performances. In this work, a carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/carbon black (CB)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fibrous film (CCTF) is prepared through electrospinning, spraying and ultrasonic anchoring technique. Synergetic conductive layers by combining CNTs/CB and CB are constructed on both sides of CCTF. In virtue of the optimization of microstructures and the synergetic conductive network, the obtained CCTF possesses an ultrawide response range (up to 500% strain), high sensitivity (gauge factor, GF up to 1516), short response/recovery time (80/80 ms), low detection limit (0.05% strain), favorable sensing stability and long-term durability. CCTF with excellent strain sensing performances is assembled as a strain sensor, which accounts for full range human biological signal acquisition, including joint movements, muscle tension, and facial micro-expressions. This paper provides a certain reference significance for the preparation and fabrication of next-generation flexible strain sensors with high performances. 

Flexible strain sensor based on CNTs/CB/TPU conductive fibrous film with wide sensing range and high sensitivity for human biological signal acquisition

Recently, flexible strain sensors have attracted great attention on account of the application potential in medical treatment, flexible prosthetics and human–machine interaction. Nevertheless, traditional uniaxial strain sensors cannot detect movement in different directions, limiting the applications in sensing technologies. In addition, it is still a significant challenge to simultaneously acquire visualized and high-performance strain sensors. Here, a highly flexible sensor with visual sensing function was fabricated by spraying silver nanowires (AgNWs)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) ink on the aligned thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) electrospun mat. The sensing performances of AgNWs/CNTs aligned TPU fluorescent mats (ACUM-F) are individually explored in vertical and parallel directions. Herein, the ACUM-F in vertical can exhibit high sensitivity (gauge factor (GF) up to 244.3), wide working range (0.1 ∼ 380 % strain), fast response/recovery time (80 ms/80 ms), good sensing durability and reproducibility (1000 stretching/releasing test cycles). Furthermore, ACUM-F is assembled as strain sensors to monitor various human body movements, which can achieve sign language interpretation through finger gesture monitoring, demonstrating its great potential in human–machine interaction. The direction-aware application of novel multidirectional sensors with visual sensing functions may bring inspiration for a new era of flexible electronics development. 

Highly aligned electrospun film with wave-like structure for multidirectional strain and visual sensing

The sandwich‐structured hydrogel devices are emerging as promising candidates for flexible supercapacitors (SCs) and wearable sensors. However, their development is hindered by the interfacial challenges, including weak adhesion, high interface resistance and relative slippage phenomena. Herein, this study reports a robust sandwich‐structure polyaniline–polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel fabricated via layer‐by‐layer in situ deposition technology. The strong interfacial bonding arises from the shared PVA component in each layer and dynamic interactions including reversible borate ester and hydrogen bonds. The integrated hydrogel demonstrates excellent mechanical performance with a tensile strength of 9.20 MPa and an elongation at break of 367%. As an all‐gel SC, the device exhibits a high areal capacitance of 1604 mF cm−2 and energy density of 142.60 µWh cm−2, and retains 95% capacitance after 1000 GCD cycles. Moreover, the hydrogel‐based strain sensor can monitor a wide range of human motions in real time. Leveraging this capability, a medical nursing system is developed that uses Morse code signals from finger movements for real‐time communication and remote diagnosis, assisting both patients and healthcare providers. This work offers an effective strategy for fabricating robust, layered hydrogels for use in energy storage and smart wearable electronics, with potential applications in motion monitoring, data transmission, and telemedicine.

A Seamlessly Integrated Sandwich‐Structured Hydrogel for Supercapacitors and Multimodal Wearable Sensors Enabling Information Transmission

All-Nanofiber Self-Powered Electronic Skin with Electrospinning Humidity-Controlled Structure for Human Muscle Detection during Fitness

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