Abstract
Herein, we designed wearable, flexible, highly sensitive textile-based pressure sensor assemblies utilizing a piezoresistive working mechanism. The sensor assemblies were constructed using a composite of coated cotton woven or polyester knitted fabric encapsulated and stitched between two layers of polypropylene spunbond nonwoven fabric embroidered with stainless steel yarn serving, creating a robust and integrated sensing structure. As a component of the sensor assemblies, the cotton and polyester fabrics were subjected to a series of surface modifications involving coating with silver nanoparticles, a silica xerogel film formation through a sol-gel process, application of polypyrrole via chemical oxidative polymerization, followed by deposition of a layer of carbon nanotubes and polydimethyl siloxane utilizing a dip-coating method. The sensor assemblies employing conductive polyester knitting fabrics demonstrate remarkable sensing capabilities, including an extensive sensing range of 0 kPa-225 kPa, high sensitivity values of 30 kPa−1, low detection limits of 125 Pa, fast response-recovery times of 120–80 ms and robust sensing stability exceeding 1000 cycles, respectively. Moreover, the sensor assemblies exhibited significant promise for real-time human motion monitoring, encompassing activities such as finger, wrist, elbow and knee bending; swallowing, walking and jumping. These sensor assemblies offer distinct advantages, including cost-effectiveness, ease of handling, straightforward production methods, and an environmentally friendly fabrication process.
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•Textile-based pressure sensors, utilizing piezoresistive principles were designed.•Conductive fabrics obtained by coating with AgNPs, silica film, PPy, CNTs and PDMS.•Sensor assemblies from conductive fabrics placed in between two layers of NW fabric.•Sensor assemblies exhibited excellent sensing properties.•Sensor assemblies presented great potential for monitoring human motion in real-time.