Muscle fibers inspired electrospun nanostructures reinforced conductive fibers for smart wearable optoelectronics and energy generators

• Published in: Nano energy Vol. 101; p. 107592
• Main Authors: Veeramuthu, Loganathan, Cho, Chia-Jung, Venkatesan, Manikandan, Kumar. G, Ranjith, Hsu, Hua-Yi, Zhuo, Bo-Xun, Kau, Lih-Jen, Chung, Ming-An, Lee, Wen-Ya, Kuo, Chi-Ching
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2022
• Subjects: Electrospinning; Energy generators; Nanofibers; Smart textiles; Wearable electronics; Wearable electronics; AgNWs; Electrospinning; LiTf; XRD; IoT; EDS; FTIR; CIE; FEA; SBS; EL; AgNPs; ETT-15; LEC; PVDF; ES; ERCF; Smart textiles; Energy generators; 1D; WS SBS; ERF; SEM; WCF; PL; Nanofibers
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2022.107592

Bioinspired muscle fiber–based wearable electronics are a breakthrough in the production of lightweight, mechanically robust next-generation smart textiles. To meet the urgent demand for next generation wearable electronics, the use of interpenetrating reinforced conductive fibers produced through electrospinning is proposed herein. Strain-insensitive and mechanically robust electrospun reinforced conductive fiber (ERCF) electrodes (elongation of 711 % and toughness of 10.05 MJ m−3) contain compliant mechanical reinforcements and deeply adhered conductive silver nanoparticles led to durable wearable optoelectronics. An ambient condition processable and fully solution processable ERCFs exhibits strain-insensitive conductive electrical endurance presents robust hysteresis-free smart gloves and light-emitting electrochemical cells performances, establishing the wearable cognitive human–computer interfaces. A designed ERCF-based nanogenerator can yield outstanding piezoelectric voltage (29.5 V), current (0.39 μA), and power output (11.57 μW) values, surpassing the performance of expensive, toxic, non-biocompatible dopants and technologies requiring highly energy-intensive poling processes. [Display omitted] •Stretchable strain insensitive nanofibrous electrode achieved via electrospinning.•Highly adhered nanoparticles and nano reinforcements imparts greater toughness.•Fibrous smart sensors presents healthcare applications via bluetooth communication.•All fiber composed fully stretchable piezoelectric yields excellent energy outputs.