Bioinspired Flexible Volatile Organic Compounds Sensor Based on Dynamic Surface Wrinkling with Dual-Signal Response

Chunyan Qu, Shuqi Wang, Lin Liu, Yuanyuan Bai, Lianhui Li, Fuqin Sun, Mingming Hao, Tie Li, Qifeng Lu, Lili Li, Sujie Qin, Ting Zhang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Living systems can respond to external stimuli by dynamic interface changes. Moreover, natural wrinkle structures allow the surface to switch dynamically and reversibly from flat to rough in response to specific stimuli. Artificial wrinkle structures have been developed for applications such as optical devices, mechanical sensors, and microfluidic devices. However, chemical molecule-triggered flexible sensors based on dynamic surface wrinkling have not been demonstrated. Inspired by human skin wrinkling, herein, a volatile organic compound (VOC)-responsive flexible sensor with a switchable dual-signal response (transparency and resistance) is achieved based on a multilayered Ag nanowire (AgNW)/SiO x /polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film. Wrinkle structures can form dynamically in response to VOC vapors (such as ethanol, toluene, acetone, formaldehyde, and methanol) due to the instability of the multilayer induced by their different swelling capabilities. By controlling the modulus of PDMS and the thickness of the SiO x layer, tunable sensitivities in resistance and transparency of the device are achieved. Additionally, the proximity mechanism of the solubility parameter is proposed, which explains the high selectivity of the device toward ethanol vapor compared with that of other VOCs well. This stimuli-responsive sensor exhibits the dynamic visual feedback and the quantitative electrical signal, which provide a novel approach for developing smart flexible electronics.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1900216
JournalSmall
Volume15
Issue number17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Apr 2019

Keywords

  • flexible sensors
  • stimuli-responsive
  • volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  • wearable electronics
  • wrinkling

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