posted on 2023-11-24, 00:20authored byJia-Yu Yang, Amit Kumar, Muhammad Omar Shaikh, Shu-Hung Huang, Ying-Nien Chou, Chao-Chun Yang, Chao-Kai Hsu, Li-Chieh Kuo, Cheng-Hsin Chuang
In this study, we investigated a novel approach to fabricate
multifunctional
ionic gel sensors by using deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as replacements
for water. When two distinct DESs were combined, customizable mechanical
and conductive properties were created, resulting in improved performance
compared with traditional hydrogel-based strain sensors. DES ionic
gels possess superior mechanical properties, transparency, biocompatibility,
and antimicrobial properties, making them suitable for a wide range
of applications such as flexible electronics, soft robotics, and healthcare.
We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the DES ionic gels, evaluating
their performance under extreme temperature conditions (−70
to 80 °C), impressive optical transparency (94%), and biocompatibility.
Furthermore, a series of tests were conducted to evaluate the antibacterial
performance (Escherichia coli) of the
DES ionic gels. Their wide strain (1–400%) and temperature
(15–50 °C)-sensing ranges demonstrate the versatility
and adaptability of DES ionic gels for diverse sensing requirements.
The resulting DES ionic gels were successfully applied in human activity
and vital sign monitoring, demonstrating their potential for biointegrated
sensing devices and healthcare applications. This study offers valuable
insights into the development and optimization of hydrogel sensors,
particularly for applications that require environmental stability,
biocompatibility, and antibacterial performance, thereby paving the
way for future advancements in this field.