Integrated Mechano-Electrochemical Harvesting Fiber and Thermally Responsive Artificial Muscle for Self-Powered Temperature–Strain Dual-Parameter Sensor

Abstract

Significant progress in healthcare fields around the world has inspired us to develop a wearable strain–temperature sensor that can monitor biomedical signals in daily life. This novel self-powered temperature–strain dual-parameter sensor comprises a mechano-electrochemical harvester (MEH) and a thermally responsive artificial muscle (TAM). The MEHTAM system generates electricity from strain and thermal fluctuations. In addition, the sensor is comfortable to wear, owing to its stretchability (>100%), softness (<3 MPa), and one-dimensional fibers (diameter 230 μm). The MEH induces a change in the electrochemical capacitance, resulting in an electrical signal under applied strain (34 μA/m) and stress (20 μA/(m·MPa)). The TAM can be used as a mechanical temperature sensor, because the tensile stroke responds linearly to changes in temperature. As the harvester and artificial muscle are combined, the MEHTAM system generates electricity, owing to external and internal mechanical stimuli caused by muscle contractions as a response to temperature changes. The MEHTAM system that we have developed—a self-powered, strain–temperature dual-parameter sensor that is soft, stretchable, and fiber-shaped—is an interesting candidate for the production of comfortable, wearable, dual-parameter sensors.