Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-Based Flexible Resistive Strain Sensors for Wearable Applications

TLDR

Flexible electronics are rapidly evolving, and there is a growing need for highly elastic strain sensors for applications such as human–machine interfaces, healthcare, and sports monitoring. This review surveys recent progress in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based flexible resistive strain sensors for wearable use. The authors discuss the potential applications of PDMS-based flexible resistive strain sensors. PDMS-based stretchable resistive strain sensors are fabricated via filtration, printing, micromolding, coating, and liquid-phase mixing, and their stretchability, gauge factor, linearity, and durability are comprehensively demonstrated and compared, underscoring the arrival of wearable intelligent electronic systems.

Abstract

There is growing attention and rapid development on flexible electronic devices with electronic materials and sensing technology innovations. In particular, strain sensors with high elasticity and stretchability are needed for several potential applications including human entertainment technology, human–machine interface, personal healthcare, and sports performance monitoring, etc. This article presents recent advancements in the development of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based flexible resistive strain sensors for wearable applications. First of all, the article shows that PDMS-based stretchable resistive strain sensors are successfully fabricated by different methods, such as the filtration method, printing technology, micromolding method, coating techniques, and liquid phase mixing. Next, strain sensing performances including stretchability, gauge factor, linearity, and durability are comprehensively demonstrated and compared. Finally, potential applications of PDMS-based flexible resistive strain sensors are also discussed. This review indicates that the era of wearable intelligent electronic systems has arrived.