Work

A hierarchically structured fibrous sensor with temperature-responsive adhesion for wearable applications

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: • A fibrous adhesive interface was fabricated via electrospinning. • Realization of temperature-controlled adhesion through molecular-level phase-change design. • Enhanced wearing comfort and long-term stability without external fixation. • Application in both human signal monitoring and interactive game control systems. Flexible self-adhesive wearable strain sensors have attracted significant attention for their ability to conform closely to human skin and accurately capture physiological signals. However, many existing designs struggle to balance sensing performance with essential comfort-related features such as breathability, waterproofness, and on-demand removability. This paper reports a hierarchically structured nanofiber-network strain sensor fabricated via electrospinning, integrating three layers: a sensing layer, a spacer layer, and an adhesive layer. The all-fiber architecture provides excellent flexibility, stretchability, and environmental adaptability, which can closely mimick the mechanical properties of human skin. The sensing layer is composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/carbon black/thermoplastic polyurethane (MWCNT/CB/TPU), which can exhibit high sensitivity, linearity, rapid response time (130 ms), and excellent cycling stability (2,000 cycles). The adhesive layer, made of electrospun poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide, PDMA) nanofibers, forms a strong interface with the skin through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions, maintaining adhesion even in humid conditions. Incorporating phase-change monomers such as octadecyl acrylate and lauryl acrylate yields a melting point of ∼38.1 °C, enabling reversible, temperature-triggered detachment. This work addresses the challenge of combining high performance with comfort, representing a paradigm shift in wearable sensing by enabling imperceptible monitoring and broadening applications in personal healthcare and interactive electronics.

Source: Materials & Design

DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2025.114694

Authors: Xiaodong Wang, Ziqian Bai, Kai Lin, Hongci Hu

Institutions: Southern University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,650