Fluorine-free Superhydrophobic and Conductive Rubber Composite with Outstanding Deicing Performance for Highly Sensitive and Stretchable Strain Sensors

Conductive polymer composite (CPC) based strain sensor due to its lightweight, tunable electrical conductivity, and easy processing has promising application in wearable electronics. However, it is still challenging to develop the CPC strain sensors with excellent stretchability, sensitivity, durability, anticorrosion, and deicing performance. Herein, a facile method is proposed to prepare fluorine-free superhydrophobic and highly conductive rubber composite. Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) are first decorated on the RB (rubber band) surface, forming a conductive shell. Then, the RB/AgNPs experiences PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) modification, which could not only endow the composite with superhydrophobicity and hence excellent corrosion resistance but also improve the interfacial adhesion between the AgNPs. The RB composite possesses a good self-cleaning performance and remains superhydrophobic even after experiencing cyclic abrasion or stretching-releasing test. Also, the high conductivity and superhydrophobicity endow the RB composite with excellent Joule heating performance and water repellence, broadening its application in deicing and water removal. Moreover, the obtained RB composite exhibits both large stretchability with a break elongation larger than 900% and high sensitivity with a response intensity as high as 3.6 × 108 at a strain of 60%. In addition, the RB composite strain sensor can be used to detect full-range human motions including large and subtle body movement. The flexible, durable, and anticorrosive RB composite has potential applications in flexible electronic, health monitoring, physical therapy, and so on.