title: Highly Stretchable and Transparent Microfluidic Strain Sensors for Monitoring Human Body Motions.
abstract: We report a new class of simple microfluidic strain sensors with high stretchability, transparency, sensitivity, and long-term stability with no considerable hysteresis and a fast response to various deformations by combining the merits of microfluidic techniques and ionic liquids. The high optical transparency of the strain sensors was achieved by introducing refractive-index matched ionic liquids into microfluidic networks or channels embedded in an elastomeric matrix. The microfluidic strain sensors offer the outstanding sensor performance under a variety of deformations induced by stretching, bending, pressing, and twisting of the microfluidic strain sensors. The principle of our microfluidic strain sensor is explained by a theoretical model based on the elastic channel deformation. In order to demonstrate its capability of practical usage, the simple-structured microfluidic strain sensors were performed onto a finger, wrist, and arm. The highly stretchable and transparent microfluidic strain sensors were successfully applied as potential platforms for distinctively monitoring a wide range of human body motions in real time. Our novel microfluidic strain sensors show great promise for making future stretchable electronic devices.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Chung-Ang University , Seoul 156-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology , Seoul 139-743, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Chung-Ang University , Seoul 156-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Suk Tai
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D018594:Human Body; D006801:Humans; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods*; D009038:Motion; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*
keywords: human motion monitoring; ionic liquids; microfluidics; stretchable devices; transparent strain sensors