Self-Adhesive, Conductive, and Antibacterial Hydrogel Nanofiber Composite as a Flexible Strain Sensor

With the surging demand for wearable sensor devices, the collective focus of the wearable field has shifted to developing flexible and highly resilient hydrogel sensors with strong adhesiveness. In this study, hydrogel nanofiber composites were fabricated using an interpenetrating framework comprising thermoplastic polyurethane nanofibers and tannic acid-derived adhesive hydrogels. The resultant hydrogel nanofiber composites were distinguished based on their suppleness and adhesion. The material adhered to the human skin surface and an array of other surfaces while displaying commendable extensibility. The substance also exhibited remarkable antibacterial attributes and durability. Because of these advantageous attributes, the synthesized hydrogel nanofiber composite can be used to develop flexible strain sensors for tracking microscopic physiological signals and human movements. Notably, manipulators can be used with these hydrogel nanofiber composites to grasp items and make various digital gestures. The findings of this study are expected to drive research on hydrogel strain sensors in the near future.