To address the shortcomings of traditional filler-based wearable hydrogels, a new type of nanochannel hydrogel sensor is fabricated in this work through a combination of the unique structure of electrospun fiber textile and the properties of a double network hydrogel. Unlike the traditional Ti3C2Tx MXene-based hydrogels, the continuously distributed Ti3C2Tx MXene in the nanochannels of the hydrogel forms a tightly interconnected structure similar to the neuron network. As a result, they have more free space to flip and perform micromovements, which allows one to significantly increase the electrical conductivity and sensitivity of the hydrogel. According to the findings, the Ti3C2Tx MXene nanochannel hydrogel has excellent mechanical properties as well as self-adhesion and antifreezing characteristics. The hydrogel sensor successfully detects different human motions and physiological signals (e.g., low pulse signals) with high stability and sensitivity. Therefore, the proposed Ti3C2Tx MXene-based hydrogel with a unique structure and properties is very promising in the field of flexible wearable devices.
Keywords: MXene; adhesive hydrogels; conductive nanocomposites; pressure and strain sensors; wearable electronics.