Textile-based capacitive sensor for physical rehabilitation via surface topological modification

Chen, L; Lu, M; Yang, H; Avila, JRS; Shi, B; Ren, L; Wei, G; Liu, X; Yin, W

Abstract

Wearable sensor technologies, especially continuous monitoring of various human health conditions, are attracting increased attention. However, current rigid sensors present obvious drawbacks, like lower durability and poor comfort. Here, a strategy is proposed to efficiently yield wearable sensors using cotton fabric as an essential component, and conductive materials conformally coat onto the cotton fibers, leading to a highly electrically conductive interconnecting network. To improve the conductivity and durability of conductive coatings, a topographical modification approach is developed with genus-3 and genus-5 structures, and topological genus structures enable cage metallic seeds on the surface of substrates. A textile-based capacitive sensor with flexible, comfortable, and durable properties has been demonstrated. High sensitivity and convenience of signal collection have been achieved by the excellent electrical conductivity of this sensor. Based on results of deep investigation on capacitance, effects of distance and angles between two conductive fabrics contribute to the capacitive sensitivity. In addition, the textile-based capacitive sensor has successfully been used for real-time monitoring human breathing, speaking, blinking, and joint motions during physical rehabilitation exercises.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 10, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jun 10, 2020
• Publication Date: Jul 28, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jun 29, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 10, 2021
• Journal: ACS Nano
• Print ISSN: 1936-0851
• Electronic ISSN: 1936-086X
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 8191-8201
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.0c01643
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.0c01643
• Related Public URLs: http://pubs.acs.org/journal/ancac3
• Additional Information: Funders : Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials;Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); Grant Number: EP/R00661X/1, EP/P025021/1, and EP/P025498/1; Grant Number: EP/M020835/1