Self-powered pressure sensor based on zinc–nickel electrochemistry for warning and detection of Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Self-powered pressure sensors based on electrochemical systems show promising potential for continuous health monitoring, yet face challenges in static response stability and miniaturized integration. Herein, a zinc–nickel electrochemical-based self-powered pressure sensor was developed for Parkinson's disease (PD) symptom monitoring and “on–off phenomenon” warning. The sensor employs a Ni₂O₃/glycerol ink screen-printed on laser-induced graphene as the cathode, a Zn foil anode, and a KOH/polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel electrolyte prepared by an optimized immersion method, separated by a perforated polydimethylsiloxane buffer layer. This design achieves a sensitivity of 0.32 V kPa⁻¹ (3–6 kPa), a broad detection range (0–10 kPa), rapid response/recovery times (95/80 ms), and exceptional durability (>4500 cycles with 0.2 V voltage decay). The sensor exhibits high biocompatibility (cell viability >93%, hemolysis rate <2%) and stable power output (1.2 V cm⁻², 150 mW). Owing to its superior performance, the sensor is capable of classifying and evaluating fitness actions, as well as recognizing respiration patterns and gestures. Notably, a PD warning and detection system was developed using an attention-artificial neural network algorithm, achieving 95% accuracy in PD severity classification and a 100% success rate in identifying sudden motor fluctuations. This work provides a closed-structure electrochemical sensing strategy for wearable medical devices, demonstrating significant clinical value in personalized PD management.