Fern-Leaf-Inspired Multifunctional Flexible Strain Sensors for Motion Monitoring, Information Communication and Health Alert.

Journal: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Published Date: Dec 12, 2025

Abstract

Flexible sensors play a crucial role in various emerging high-tech fields including electronic technology, information industry, and bioengineering. However, achieving excellent comprehensive performances through optimum structural designs remains a great challenge. Here, a facile technique is proposed to prepare high-performance flexible strain sensors based on fern-leaf-inspired hierarchical structures including primary, secondary, tertiary veins, and corrugated surfaces. The primary vein with a deep W-shaped groove plays a critical role in optimizing sensing performances by the formation of staggered cracks and establishment of serpentine conductive paths. This unique sensing mechanism endows the sensor with excellent comprehensive performances including high sensitivity (up to 20940), low detection limit (0.06%), wide detection range (40%), fast response/recovery speed (83/92 ms), good cyclic stability (20000 cycles), and outstanding bidirectional bending capacity. As a demonstration of applications, the fern-leaf-inspired sensor has been used for human motion monitoring, Morse code expressing, information encryption, machine learning-assisted bending recognition, and health alert. This innovative design not only shows the application prospect of biomimetic sensors in the fields of health management and information communication, but also provides a new idea for future intelligent interactive systems.

Authors

  • Senjiang Yu
    Key Laboratory of Novel Materials for Sensor of Zhejiang Province, College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China.
  • Jianan Kong
    Key Laboratory of Novel Materials for Sensor of Zhejiang Province, College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China.
  • Wei Dai
    Department of Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi Medical College, Shangrao, Jiangxi, China.
  • Qianqian Ye
    Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
  • Boyuan Huang
    CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China.
  • Yifan Xu
    Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, 38 Xue Yuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China. [email protected].
  • Miaogen Chen
    Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Quality Big Data Tracing and Analysis of Zhejiang Province, College of Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, P. R. China.
  • Liang Hu
    Digital Medical Research Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
  • Chenxi Lu
    Center for Brain Imaging Science and Technology, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrumental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.

Keywords

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