Two-dimensional carbon material incorporated and PDMS-coated conductive textile yarns for strain sensing

Abstract

In recent years, innovative technology based upon conductive textile yarns has undergone rapid growth. Nanocomposite-based wearable strain sensors hold great promise for a variety of applications, but specifically for human body motion detection. However, improving the sensitivity of these strain sensors while maintaining their durability remains a challenge in this arena. In the present investigation, polydopamine-treated and two-dimensional nanostructured material, e.g., reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-coated conductive cotton and polyester yarns, was encapsulated using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to develop robustly wash durable and mechanically stable conductive textile yarns. Flexibility and extensibility of all textile yarns of every stage were analyzed using texture analysis. The chemical interactions essential for measuring coating performance among all components were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy. The rGO-coated cotton and polyester yarns exhibited an extensibility of 11.77 and 73.59%, respectively. PDMS-coated conductive cotton and polyester yarns also showed an electrical resistance of 12.22 and 20.33 kΩ, respectively, after 10 washing cycles. The PDMS coating layer acted as a physical barrier against impairment of conductivity during washing. Finally, the mechanically stable and flexible conductive textile yarns were integrated into a knitted cotton glove and armband to create a highly stretchable and flexible textile-based strain sensor for measuring finger and elbow movement. Truly wearable garments able to record proprioceptive maps are critical for further developing this field of application.