Response Regulation for Epidermal Fabric Strain Sensors via Mechanical Strategy
Yunzhao Bai, Liting Yin, Chao Hou, Yunlei Zhou, Fan Zhang, Zhangyu Xu, Kan Li, YongAn Huang
Abstract
Abstract Advances in fabric strain sensors have established a route to comfortable‐to‐wear flexible electronics with particularly remarkable permeability and low modulus due to their porous fabric microstructure. A key challenge that remains unsolved is to regulate the sensor response via on‐demand design for a variety of application scenarios to sufficiently exploit the highest possible sensitivity. While recent reports have described a variety of options in varying the material and orientation of the overall fiber mat, the development of approaches where multiple sensors with different responses can be integrated on a single substrate without affecting macroscopic mechanical properties remains an area of continued interest. Herein, a simple mechanical strategy is reported, which plates the patterned functional material on the fabric mat at a pre‐stretched state in the prescribed direction, and control of direction and prestrain forms either sensors with different responses or strain‐insensitive interconnects. A systematic study has revealed the underlying mechanism of this strategy, which can serve as a guideline for the on‐demand design and fabrication of fabric strain sensors. Demonstration applications in motion monitoring bandages and gesture recognition gloves illustrate capabilities in functional epidermal sensing devices.