Pathways toward wearable and high-performance sensors based on hydrogels: toughening networks and conductive networks

Junbo Zhu; Jingchen Tao; Wei Yan; Weixing Song

doi:10.1093/nsr/nwad180

Pathways toward wearable and high-performance sensors based on hydrogels: toughening networks and conductive networks

Natl Sci Rev. 2023 Jun 22;10(9):nwad180. doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwad180. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Junbo Zhu¹, Jingchen Tao¹, Wei Yan¹, Weixing Song¹

Affiliation

¹ Beijing Key Laboratory for Optical Materials and Photonic Devices, Department of Chemistry, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China.

Abstract

Wearable hydrogel sensors provide a user-friendly option for wearable electronics and align well with the existing manufacturing strategy for connecting and communicating with large numbers of Internet of Things devices. This is attributed to their components and structures, which exhibit exceptional adaptability, scalability, bio-compatibility, and self-healing properties, reminiscent of human skin. This review focuses on the recent research on principal structural elements of wearable hydrogels: toughening networks and conductive networks, highlighting the strategies for enhancing mechanical and electrical properties. Wearable hydrogel sensors are categorized for an extensive exploration of their composition, mechanism, and design approach. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of wearable hydrogels and offers guidance for the design of components and structures in order to develop high-performance wearable hydrogel sensors.

Keywords: conductive networks; electronic skin; hydrogels; toughening networks; wearable sensors.

Publication types

Review