High-linearity, ultralow-detection-limit, and rapid-response strain sensing yarn for data gloves

Abstract

Highly integrated, low-cost and multi-functional electronic data gloves have attracted extensive attention in the Age of the Internet of Things. While significant progress has been made in the design of strain sensors with wide strain ranges, it is challenging to integrate high linearity, broad strain sensing range, and fast response into a single type of strain sensor, and these sensing properties play a critical role in the development of high-performance data gloves. Herein, this study presents a highly flexible, stretchable, and sensitive silver nanoparticles/double covered yarn (AgNPs/DCY) composite yarn, and this yarn as strain sensor achieves broad strain sensing range (50%), ultralow detection limit (0.05%), high linear sensitivity (GF = 10), instant response time (24 ms) and high repeatability, simultaneously. Interestingly, the AgNPs of the AgNPs/DCY composite yarns fabricated by in situ reduction are observed to not only evenly distributed on the fiber surface of DCY, but also within core fiber, and this distribution and the DCY structure; that is, the cooperative sensing effect of microcrack propagation of conductive layer on fibers and the electrical contact resistance contributes to the good sensing performance. Additionally, this composite yarn as strain sensor is invisibly integrated into textile data gloves and the capability of real-time monitoring various finger motions and effectively recognizing sign languages demonstrates the good sensing performance and practicability of the developed composite yarn. Therefore, the composite yarn as strain sensor has great prospects in wearable electronics.