Batch Fabrication of Flexible Strain Sensors with High Linearity and Low Hysteresis for Health Monitoring and Motion Detection

In recent years, flexible strain sensors have gradually come into our lives due to their superiority in the field of biomonitoring. However, these sensors still suffer from poor durability, high hysteresis, and difficulty in calibration, resulting in great hindrance of practical application. Herein, starting with interfacial interaction regulation and structure-induced cracking, flexible strain sensors with high performance are successfully fabricated. In this strategy, dopamine treatment is used to enhance the bonding between flexible substrates and carbon nanotubes (CNT). The combination within the conductive networks is then controlled by substituting the CNT type. Braid-like fibers are employed to achieve controllable expansion of the conductive layer cracks. Finally, we obtain strain sensors that possess high linearity (R2 = 0.997) with low hysteresis (5%), high sensitivity (GF = 60) and wide sensing range (0-50%), short response time (62 ms), outstanding stability, and repeatability (>10,000 cycles). Flexible strain sensors with all performances good are rarely reported. Static and dynamic respiration and pulse signal monitoring by the fiber sensor are demonstrated. Moreover, a knee joint monitoring system is constructed for the monitoring of various walking stances, which is of great value to the diagnosis and rehabilitation of many diseases.