Chinese researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed a new type of graphene porous fibers decorated with nanoballs and high gauge factors to improve the sensitivity of wearable sensors. The team produced a structural design to reduce the contact area between the graphene and polymer to enhance sensitivity.
The team explained that wearable textile strain sensors, perceiving and responding to human stimuli, are essential parts of wearable electronics. But subtle strains detection on human bodies is still limited to low sensitivity within current sensors.
In this work, a low detection limit with only 0.01 percent strain and good durability of over 6,000 circles were reportedly obtained.
Patients with eye disease may be among those expected to be assisted by the fiber-based textile sensors which can recognize eyeball movement in real time while maintaining comfort. Wrist pulse can also be recognized by the sensors.
Moreover, by weaving such fibers, the electronic fabrics can distinguish multilocation in real time, which offers great potential for use in wearable electronics.