A Janus PEDOT/PAM Conductive Hydrogel Enabling Dual-function Uric Acid Detection and Mechanical Monitoring

Abstract

Flexible bioelectronic sensors require materials that simultaneously provide high stretchability, strong tissue adhesion, and efficient signal transduction, these performances rarely achieved in conventional conductive hydrogels. Herein, a Janus poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polyacrylamide (PEDOT/PAM) conductive hydrogel engineered for dual-function sensing is reported, enabling both electrochemical uric acid (UA) detection and human-motion monitoring. The hydrogel integrates an electropolymerized PEDOT layer, which forms an efficient electronic transport pathway, with an MXene-reinforced PEDOT:PSS-PAM network that provides exceptional mechanical and electrochemical performance. Owing to synergistic interactions among PEDOT:PSS, MXene, and PAM chains, the hydrogel achieves ultrahigh stretchability (1045%), robust skin adhesion (>30 kPa), and significantly enhanced conductivity. The Janus structure enables stable, real-time detection of multiple human motions across various joints and subtle muscle activities. Importantly, the UA sensor exhibits sensitive and interference-resistant detection in both PBS and bovine serum, benefitting from MXene-driven charge enrichment and PEDOT:PSS-mediated electrooxidation. This work elucidates the synergistic enhancement mechanism of MXene/PEDOT:PSS hybrids and introduces a dual-functional hydrogel platform that bridges mechanical sensing and biochemical diagnostics, offering strong potential for next-generation wearable and clinical biosensing applications.