Flexible sensor based on self-assembly of halloysite nanotubes in ionic liquids/thermoplastic polyurethane composites

Ionogels are gradually entering the flexible sensor field due to their excellent ionic conductivity, thermal stability and wide electrochemical window. It is critical to balance the mechanical and conductivity properties of ionogels for further application. Herein, inspired by vapor-induced phase se...

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Main Authors: Xiuqi Zhou, Jiajun Chen, Wenwu Zhang, Wenming Zhao, Qinghu Wang, Xiongqi Peng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Polymer Testing
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941825002454
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author Xiuqi Zhou
Jiajun Chen
Wenwu Zhang
Wenming Zhao
Qinghu Wang
Xiongqi Peng
author_facet Xiuqi Zhou
Jiajun Chen
Wenwu Zhang
Wenming Zhao
Qinghu Wang
Xiongqi Peng
author_sort Xiuqi Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Ionogels are gradually entering the flexible sensor field due to their excellent ionic conductivity, thermal stability and wide electrochemical window. It is critical to balance the mechanical and conductivity properties of ionogels for further application. Herein, inspired by vapor-induced phase separation strategy and self-assembled strategy, a flexible strain-sensor was developed by adding ionic liquid (IL) decorated halloysite nanotube (HNT) into thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix. As a phase separation material, the rigid regions of TPU offered strength and toughness for ionogels, while the soft regions offered high stretchability. Due to electrostatic interaction, the cations and anions of IL self-assembled onto the inner and outer surface of HNT. The HNT obtained orderly arrangement structure after shear process, which provides effective ionic transport channels for IL. As a strain sensor, the as-prepared TPU@IL@HNT sensor exhibited highly gauge factor, fast response speed (400 ms), and excellent cycle stability (5625 cycles) at a strain of 40 %. A linear relation between strain and resistance change was found for TPU@IL@HNT sensor, which is an important criterion for their application on strain sensors. As a whole, the TPU@IL@HNT sensor prepared in this work could serve as an excellent sensing unit for wearable devices.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1873-2348
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publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Polymer Testing
spelling doaj-art-865890700cd94044918d57dfb2cf2fe92025-08-20T03:36:26ZengElsevierPolymer Testing1873-23482025-09-0115010893110.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108931Flexible sensor based on self-assembly of halloysite nanotubes in ionic liquids/thermoplastic polyurethane compositesXiuqi Zhou0Jiajun Chen1Wenwu Zhang2Wenming Zhao3Qinghu Wang4Xiongqi Peng5School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, ChinaYangtze River Delta Carbon Fiber & Composite Material Innovation Center, Changzhou, 213002, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China; Corresponding author.School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China; Corresponding author.Ionogels are gradually entering the flexible sensor field due to their excellent ionic conductivity, thermal stability and wide electrochemical window. It is critical to balance the mechanical and conductivity properties of ionogels for further application. Herein, inspired by vapor-induced phase separation strategy and self-assembled strategy, a flexible strain-sensor was developed by adding ionic liquid (IL) decorated halloysite nanotube (HNT) into thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix. As a phase separation material, the rigid regions of TPU offered strength and toughness for ionogels, while the soft regions offered high stretchability. Due to electrostatic interaction, the cations and anions of IL self-assembled onto the inner and outer surface of HNT. The HNT obtained orderly arrangement structure after shear process, which provides effective ionic transport channels for IL. As a strain sensor, the as-prepared TPU@IL@HNT sensor exhibited highly gauge factor, fast response speed (400 ms), and excellent cycle stability (5625 cycles) at a strain of 40 %. A linear relation between strain and resistance change was found for TPU@IL@HNT sensor, which is an important criterion for their application on strain sensors. As a whole, the TPU@IL@HNT sensor prepared in this work could serve as an excellent sensing unit for wearable devices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941825002454IonogelsFlexible sensorsHalloysite nanotubesIonic liquidsThermoplastic polyurethane
spellingShingle Xiuqi Zhou
Jiajun Chen
Wenwu Zhang
Wenming Zhao
Qinghu Wang
Xiongqi Peng
Flexible sensor based on self-assembly of halloysite nanotubes in ionic liquids/thermoplastic polyurethane composites
Polymer Testing
Ionogels
Flexible sensors
Halloysite nanotubes
Ionic liquids
Thermoplastic polyurethane
title Flexible sensor based on self-assembly of halloysite nanotubes in ionic liquids/thermoplastic polyurethane composites
title_full Flexible sensor based on self-assembly of halloysite nanotubes in ionic liquids/thermoplastic polyurethane composites
title_fullStr Flexible sensor based on self-assembly of halloysite nanotubes in ionic liquids/thermoplastic polyurethane composites
title_full_unstemmed Flexible sensor based on self-assembly of halloysite nanotubes in ionic liquids/thermoplastic polyurethane composites
title_short Flexible sensor based on self-assembly of halloysite nanotubes in ionic liquids/thermoplastic polyurethane composites
title_sort flexible sensor based on self assembly of halloysite nanotubes in ionic liquids thermoplastic polyurethane composites
topic Ionogels
Flexible sensors
Halloysite nanotubes
Ionic liquids
Thermoplastic polyurethane
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941825002454
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AT wenwuzhang flexiblesensorbasedonselfassemblyofhalloysitenanotubesinionicliquidsthermoplasticpolyurethanecomposites
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AT qinghuwang flexiblesensorbasedonselfassemblyofhalloysitenanotubesinionicliquidsthermoplasticpolyurethanecomposites
AT xiongqipeng flexiblesensorbasedonselfassemblyofhalloysitenanotubesinionicliquidsthermoplasticpolyurethanecomposites