Synergy of Organic/Inorganic and Inner/Outer Cooperative Conductive Networks in Polydimethylsiloxane-Based Porous Foam on High-Performance Flexible Sensors

The development of low-cost and high-performance flexible sensor materials is crucial for the advancement of wearable electronic devices, medical monitoring, and human-machine interfaces. In this study, a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-coated multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-reinforced polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite foam with a uniform organic/inorganic and inner/outer cooperative conductive network was developed to detect tensile and compressive forces. The study demonstrates that the internally cross-linked MWCNTs and PEDOT:PSS coatings within the foam framework play a crucial role in the porous structure and sensing properties of the composite foam. Due to the excellent hierarchical pore structure and dual-channel electronic pathway of the PP@MWCNTs/PDMS foam, the sensor exhibited not only high sensitivity to small pressures but also notable perception capability within the stretchable range. It also maintained excellent stability during multiple stretching and compression loading cycles. In terms of applications, the sensor could be used not only to monitor external stimuli and detect subtle movements within the human body in the field of wearable monitoring but also to sense spatial pressure distribution, which validates its potential in the development of flexible wearable sensing devices.