Multifunctional wearable strain/pressure sensor based on conductive carbon nanotubes/silk nonwoven fabric with high durability and low detection limit

With the rapid development of flexible wearable strain sensor systems, electronic textiles with comfort and controllable strain/pressure-sensing capabilities have attracted great interest. However, it is still a great challenge to prepare multifunctional wearable strain/pressure sensor with an ultra-low detection limit through a facile and cost-effective method. Here, conductive carbon nanotubes modified silk nonwoven fabric (CNTs/SNWF) composite was successfully prepared by the surface micro-dissolution and adhesion technology (SD&AT). Micromorphology analysis showed that CNTs were adhered firmly on the surface of silk fiber to form an effective conductive network. The conductive CNTs/SNWF-based strain/pressure sensor can detect a strain as low as 0.05% and an ultralow pressure of 10 Pa, showing an ultrahigh discernibility. Besides, it also exhibited excellent sensing stability and reproductivity under different conditions, making it applicable in the field of real-time human movement monitoring. Moreover, electronic skin was also established based on the conductive CNTs/SNWF to recognize different tactile stimulus. Interestingly, the prepared conductive CNTs/SNWF also displayed great applicability for optical and thermal sensing, endowing it with more functionality for next-generation wearable electronics. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]