Continuous Fabrication of a Dual-Mode Sensing Fiber Based on a Mechanochromic Photonic Crystal for Information Transmission

Dual-mode fiber sensors are widely considered as a promising man-machine interaction information transmission device, which can accurately detect and output electrical and visual signals. However, single response, continuous preparation, and monitoring scope limit its sensitivity and application. Here, a dual-mode sensing fiber was designed and prepared by continuous wet spinning and coating a photonic crystal mixed with carbon black (CB) (PS@P(EA-BA)/CB), which can monitor and output optical and electrical signals simultaneously. Benefiting from the structural color and dual conductive path of the core-shell structure, the dual-mode fiber shows a wide electrical sensing range (0-100%), high sensitivity (GF: 0.29 at 40%), obvious and angle-independent color change, and durability (>600 cycles). The deepening effect of CB and the restructuring of the conductive network are verified and analyzed. And, the information on "HELLO JNU" and "BYE JNU" is successfully transferred based on the defined binary ("0" and "1") Morse code. The design and exploration of dual-mode fibers provide a feasible plan and application in long-distance information interaction of wearable sensing devices.