Bioinspired conductive cellulose liquid-crystal hydrogels as multifunctional electrical skins

Abstract

Significance We present an electronic skin (E-skin) based on hydroxypropyl cellulose composite hydrogel with stable cholesteric liquid-crystal structures and bright structural colors. Due to the utilization of the composite hydrogel with multiple responsiveness as a main building block, the E-skin can respond to pressure, tension, and temperature, and perform optical sensing of these external stimuli through color migration caused by internal structural changes. By adding carbon nanotubes, the composite hydrogel can simultaneously output these stimuli as electrical signals. Due to this dual-responsive mechanism under stimuli, the E-skin has great research value in health care and variable devices.