A hot-humid tolerant and antibacterial MXene-based hydrogel sensor for real-time cardiorespiratory monitoring in endurance sports
Xiaoyan Wang, Hongcheng Xu, Chuanyu Zhang, Eng Gee Lim, Yinchao Zhao, Kai F. Hoettges, Xueyong Wei, Qifeng Lu, Fuzhou Niu, Pengfei Song
Abstract
Wearable sensors for continuous physiological monitoring during intense exercise face significant challenges, including motion artifacts and skin discomfort. Conductive hydrogels offer a promising solution due to their skin-like flexibility and excellent electrical conductivity, yet their application in extreme conditions like marathon running remains challenges. Here, we develop a MXene-based dual-network hydrogel composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and tempo-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNF) crosslinked with MXene nanosheets and borax. This hydrogel exhibits exceptional environmental stability (35 days at 4 °C and 30% relative humidity) and strain sensitivity (gauge factor of 7.79 at 800% strain), while MXene integration provides outstanding antibacterial properties (>99% inhibition). As a proof of concept, under simulated marathon conditions (38°C, 52% relative humidity), the sensor maintains stable performance for 6 h, demonstrating reliable heart rate and respiration monitoring. These capabilities are crucial for identifying early signs of cardiorespiratory abnormalities during endurance sports. Our work presents a robust strategy for developing wearable hydrogel sensors with long-term reliability in extreme environments, offering significant potential for sports medicine, exercise physiology, and continuous health monitoring applications.