title: Multifunctional Wearable Device Based on Flexible and Conductive Carbon Sponge/Polydimethylsiloxane Composite.
abstract: Wearable devices that can be used to monitor personal health, track human motions, and provide thermotherapy, etc., are highly desired in personalized healthcare. In this work, a multifunctional wearable "wrist band" which works as both heater for thermotherapy and sensor for personal health and motion monitoring is fabricated from a flexible and conductive carbon sponge/polydimethylsiloxane (CS/PDMS) composite. The key functional material of the wrist band, namely, the conductive CS, is synthesized from waste paper by a freeze-drying and high-temperature pyrolysis process. When the wrist band works as a heater under 15 V, a stable temperature difference of 20 °C is achieved between the wrist band and the ambient. When the wrist band serves as a wearable strain sensor, the wrist band exhibits fast and repeatable response and excellent durability within the strain range of 0-20% and the working frequency of 0.01-10 Hz. Finally, the typical applications of the multifunctional wearable wrist band, as a heater for thermotherapy and a sensor for blood pulse, breathe, and walk monitoring, are demonstrated. Due to its low cost, high flexibility, moderate conductivity, and excellent strain sensibility, the as-prepared wearable device based on the CS/PDMS composite is promising to be applied for the provision of personal healthcare.
authors.forename: Yuan-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei-Bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xiao-Guang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shao-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science, Technology, & Research , Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Kin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liao
keywords: composite; heater; multifunctionality; strain sensor; wearable device