Multifunctional Ternary Hybrid Hydrogel Sensor Prepared via the Synergistic Stabilization Effect

Since highly stretchable hydrogels have demonstrated their promising applications in flexible tactile sensors and wearable devices, the current challenge has been imposed on stretchable and multifunctional electronics. Here, we report a multifunctional sensor composed of a liquid metal (LM) nanodroplet-adhered self-assembled polymeric network, anionic carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and cationic polyacrylamide (PAAm). The synergistic effect, zeta potential reduction, by CMC and macromolecules enveloped by LM contributes to the stabilization of the ternary system during preparation and, thus, the homogenization of the products. By engineering and optimizing the ternary hybrid hydrogels, excellent extensibility (tensile strain near 300%), readily reversible hysteresis loops, and accessible deformability (low modulus of 104 Pa) are afforded. The fabricated sensor exhibits a high tensile strain gauge factor of around 0.7 and a high compressive stress sensitivity of up to 0.12 kPa–1, a fast response time below 125 ms, and a high stability and precision in usage. In a series of practical scenarios, the assembled sensor displays distinguished abilities to monitor bodily motions, record electrocardiograms, authenticate handwriting, discern temperature, and infer materials, making them highly promising for multifunctional intelligent soft sensing.