Ultrafast dynamic response of waterproof stretchable strain sensors based on wrinkle-templated microcracking

Abstract

Stretchable strain sensors simultaneously featuring a fast dynamic response, waterproof ability and a wide working strain range are highly required in practical applications. Here, we report a new class of high-performance strain sensors based on a wrinkle-templated microcracking mechanism involved in a strain-sensing bilayer configuration. Besides high stretchability, the resulting strain sensors with surface hierarchical micro/nanostructures have waterproof properties, ultrafast dynamic sensing behaviors (response time: ∼0.08 ms) and ultrahigh sensitivity in the whole strain range. As demonstrated, the waterproof stretchable strain sensor has outstanding capability such as in vibration monitoring and voice recognition with a frequency up to 20 000 Hz, and as dynamic-sensing electronic skins even under harsh conditions (e.g., underwater and small and large strains simultaneously loaded). The wrinkle-templated microcracking mechanism offers a simple general guideline to design diverse microcracking-based stretchable devices with highly boosted performances.