Flexible and Wire‐Shaped Micro‐Supercapacitor Based on Ni(OH)2‐Nanowire and Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Electrodes

Portable and multifunctional electronic devices are developing in the trend of being small, flexible, roll‐up, and even wearable, which asks us to develop flexible and micro‐sized energy conversion/storage devices. Here, the high performance of a flexible, wire‐shaped, and solid‐state micro‐supercapacitor, which is prepared by twisting a Ni(OH)2‐nanowire fiber‐electrode and an ordered mesoporous carbon fiber‐electrode together with a polymer electrolyte, is demonstrated. This micro‐supercapacitor displays a high specific capacitance of 6.67 mF cm^–1 (or 35.67 mF cm^–2) and a high specific energy density of 0.01 mWh cm^–2 (or 2.16 mWh cm^–3), which are about 10–100 times higher than previous reports. Furthermore, its capacitance retention is 70% over 10 000 cycles, indicating perfect cyclic ability. Two wire‐shaped micro‐supercapacitors (0.6 mm in diameter, ≈3 cm in length) in series can successfully operate a red light‐emitting‐diode, indicating promising practical application. Furthermore, synchrotron radiation X‐ray computed microtomo­graphy technology is employed to investigate inner structure of the micro‐device, confirming its solid‐state characteristic. This micro‐supercapacitor may bring new design opportunities of device configuration for energy‐storage devices in the future wearable electronic area.     

Highly Stretchable or Transparent Conductor Fabrication by a Hierarchical Multiscale Hybrid Nanocomposite

As is frequently seen in sci‐fi movies, future electronics are expected to ultimately be in the form of wearable electronics. To realize wearable electronics, the electric components should be soft, flexible, and even stretchable to be human‐friendly. An important step is presented toward realization of wearable electronics by developing a hierarchical multiscale hybrid nanocomposite for highly flexible, stretchable, or transparent conductors. The hybrid nanocomposite combines the enhanced mechanical compliance, electrical conductivity, and optical transparency of small CNTs (d ≈ 1.2 nm) and the enhanced electrical conductivity of relatively bigger Ag nanowire (d ≈ 150 nm) backbone to provide efficient multiscale electron transport path with Ag nanowire current backbone collector and local CNT percolation network. The highly elastic hybrid nanocomposite conductors and highly transparent flexible conductors can be mounted on any non‐planar or soft surfaces to realize human‐friendly electronics interface for future wearable electronics.     

Ultrasensitive and Highly Stretchable Multifunctional Strain Sensors with Timbre‐Recognition Ability Based on Vertical Graphene

Stretchable/wearable strain sensors are attracting growing interest due to their broad applications in physical and physiological measurements. However, the development of a multifunctional highly stretchable sensor satisfying the requirements of ultrahigh sensitivity (able to distinguish sound frequency) remains a challenge. An ultrasensitive and highly stretchable multifunctional strain sensor with timbre‐recognition ability based on high‐crack‐density vertical graphene (VGr) is fabricated using an ultrasonic peeling (UP) method. It can distinguish frequencies of sounds higher than 2500 Hz. Detailed microscopic examinations reveal that their ultrahigh sensitivity stems from the formation of high‐density nanocracks in the graphitic base layer, which is bridged by the top branched VGr nanowalls. These nanocracks cut the VGr film into a large number of nanopieces, which increase the natural frequency of the sensors, enabling the sensors to distinguish the sound frequency. Demonstrations are presented to highlight the sensors' potential as wearable devices for human physiological signal and timbre detections. This is the first multifunctional highly stretchable strain sensor with timbre‐recognition ability.     

Elastomeric Electronic Skin for Prosthetic Tactile Sensation

This report demonstrates a wearable elastomer‐based electronic skin including resistive sensors for monitoring finger articulation and capacitive tactile pressure sensors that register distributed pressure along the entire length of the finger. Pressure sensitivity in the order of 0.001 to 0.01 kPa^?1 for pressures from 5 to 405 kPa, which includes much of the range of human physiological sensing, is achieved by implementing soft, compressible silicone foam as the dielectric and stretchable thin‐metal films. Integrating these sensors in a textile glove allows the decoupling of the strain and pressure cross‐sensitivity of the tactile sensors, enabling precise grasp analysis. The sensorized glove is implemented in a human‐in‐the‐loop system for controlling the grasp of objects, a critical step toward hand prosthesis with integrated sensing capabilities.     

Bubble Architectures for Locally Resonant Acoustic Metamaterials

Soft acoustic metamaterials that embed soft materials in a host media have promising applications in aqueous environments. However, the preparation of soft metamaterials under water and realization of low‐frequency soft acoustic metamaterials remains a challenge. By combining 3D printing technology and surface hydrophobic properties, this work presents a general approach to construct 3D soft acoustic metamaterials using bubbles as resonator units. Low‐frequency broadband locally resonant metamaterials can be realized using patterned bubbles with bandgaps that are orders of magnitude wider than other locally resonant metamaterials. In addition, a water‐to‐air ultratransmission metasurface is prepared by patterning a layer of bubbles beneath the water surface, which allows for the ultratransmission of sound across an air–water interface. This strategy opens up promising avenues for many applications based on locally resonant metamaterials such as deep subwavelength acoustic superlenses or negative‐refraction metamaterials.     

Room‐Temperature Nanosoldering of a Very Long Metal Nanowire Network by Conducting‐Polymer‐Assisted Joining for a Flexible Touch‐Panel Application

As an alternative to the brittle and expensive indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent conductor, a very simple, room‐temperature nanosoldering method of Ag nanowire percolation network is developed with conducting polymer to demonstrate highly flexible and even stretchable transparent conductors. The drying conducting polymer on Ag nanowire percolation network is used as a nanosoldering material inducing strong capillary‐force‐assisted stiction of the nanowires to other nanowires or to the substrate to enhance the electrical conductivity, mechanical stability, and adhesion to the substrate of the nanowire percolation network without the conventional high‐temperature annealing step. Highly bendable Ag nanowire/conducting polymer hybrid films with low sheet resistance and high transmittance are demonstrated on a plastic substrate. The fabricated flexible transparent electrode maintains its conductivity over 20 000 cyclic bends and 5 to 10% stretching. Finally, a large area (A4‐size) transparent conductor and a flexible touch panel on a non‐flat surface are fabricated to demonstrate the possibility of cost‐effective mass production as well as the applicability to the unconventional arbitrary soft surfaces. These results suggest that this is an important step toward producing intelligent and multifunctional soft electric devices as friendly human/electronics interface, and it may ultimately contribute to the applications in wearable computers.     

Multiaxial and Transparent Strain Sensors Based on Synergetically Reinforced and Orthogonally Cracked Hetero‐Nanocrystal Solids

Wearable strain sensors are widely researched as core components in electronic skin. However, their limited capability of detecting only a single axial strain, and their low sensitivity, stability, opacity, and high production costs hinder their use in advanced applications. Herein, multiaxially highly sensitive, optically transparent, chemically stable, and solution‐processed strain sensors are demonstrated. Transparent indium tin oxide and zinc oxide nanocrystals serve as metallic and insulating components in a metal–insulator matrix and as active materials for strain gauges. Synergetic sensitivity‐ and stability‐reinforcing agents are developed using a transparent SU‐8 polymer to enhance the sensitivity and encapsulate the devices, elevating the gauge factor up to over 3000 by blocking the reconnection of cracks caused by the Poisson effect. Cross‐shaped patterns with an orthogonal crack strategy are developed to detect a complex multiaxial strain, efficiently distinguishing strains applied in various directions with high sensitivity and selectivity. Finally, all‐transparent wearable strain sensors with Ag nanowire electrodes are fabricated using an all‐solution process, which effectively measure not only the human motion or emotion, but also the multiaxial strains occurring during human motion in real time. The strategies can provide a pathway to realize cost‐effective and high‐performance wearable sensors for advanced applications such as bio‐integrated devices.     

Flexible Inorganic Piezoelectric Acoustic Nanosensors for Biomimetic Artificial Hair Cells

For patients who suffer from sensorineural hearing loss by damaged or loss of hair cells in the cochlea, biomimetic artificial cochleas to remedy the dis­advantages of existing implant systems have been intensively studied. Here, a new concept of an inorganic‐based piezoelectric acoustic nanosensor (iPANS) for the purpose of a biomimetic artificial hair cell to mimic the functions of the original human hair cells is introduced. A trapezoidal silicone‐based membrane (SM) mimics the function of the natural basilar membrane for frequency selectivity, and a flexible iPANS is fabricated on the SM utilizing a laser lift‐off technology to overcome the brittle characteristics of inorganic piezoelectric materials. The vibration amplitude vs piezoelectric sensing signals are theoretically examined based on the experimental conditions by finite element analysis. The SM is successful at separating the audible frequency range of incoming sound, vibrating distinctively according to varying locations of different sound frequencies, thus allowing iPANS to convert tiny vibration displacement of ≈15 nm into an electrical sensing output of ≈55 μV, which is close to the simulation results presented. This conceptual iPANS of flexible inorganic piezoelectric materials sheds light on the new fields of nature‐inspired biomimetic systems using inherently high piezoelectric charge constants.     

A low-power readout circuit for nanowire based hydrogen sensor

This paper presents a fully integrated lock-in amplifier intended for nanowire gas sensing. The nanowire will change its conductivity according to the concentration of an absorbing gas. To ensure an accurate nanowire impedance measurement, a lock-in technique is implemented to attenuate the low frequency noise and offset by synchronous demodulation or phase-sensitive detection (PSD). The dual-channel lock-in amplifier also provides both resistive and capacitive information of the nanowire in separate channels. Measurement results of test resistors and capacitors show a 2% resolution in the resistance range 10-40 kΩ and a 3% resolution in the capacitance range 0.5-1.8 nF. Moreover, a 28.7-32.1 kΩ impedance variation was measured through the lock-in amplifier for a single palladium nanowire that was exposed to a decreasing hydrogen concentration (10% H₂ in N₂ to air). The chip has been implemented with UMC 0.18 μm CMOS technology and occupies an area of 2 mm². The power consumption of the readout circuit is 2 mW from a 1.8 V supply.     

Arrays of Ordered Pb Nanowires and Their Optical Properties for Laminated Polarizers

A laminated micropolarizer of Pb nanowire arrays was fabricated within an anodic alumina membrane (AAM) by anodization of the pure Al foil and subsequent electrodeposition of Pb. X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, selected‐area electron diffraction, and high‐resolution electron microscopy investigations reveal that the ordered Pb nanowires are essentially single crystal, and have an average diameter of 40 nm. Spectrophotometry measurements show that the Pb nanowire arrays embedded in AAM can only transmit polarized light vertical to the wires. An extinction ratio of 17 to 18 dB and an average insertion loss of 0.4 dB cm^–1 in the wavelength range of 1 to 2.2 μm were obtained, respectively. Therefore, these Pb nanowire/AAM composites can be used as a wire grid type micropolarizer.     

Silicon Nanowire Sensors for Bioanalytical Applications: Glucose and Hydrogen Peroxide Detection

Silicon nanowire films have been modified with boron and used as sensors to measure glucose in aqueous solution. These sensors have a wide linear range (0–10 mM glucose), high sensitivity (172 nA mmol^–1), good reproducibility, and long‐term stability. Silicon nanowire films have also been modified with magnesium and shown to perform as sensors for detecting hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution.     

Flexible and Waterproof Resistive Random‐Access Memory Based on Nitrocellulose for Skin‐Attachable Wearable Devices

Memory for skin‐attachable wearable devices for healthcare monitoring must meet a number of requirements, including flexibility and stability in external environments. Among various memory technologies, organic‐based resistive random‐access memory (RRAM) devices are an attractive candidate for skin‐attachable wearable devices due to the high flexibility of organic materials. However, organic‐based RRAMs are particularly vulnerable to external moisture, making them difficult to apply as skin‐attachable wearable devices. In this research, RRAMs are fabricated that meet the requirements for skin‐attachable wearable devices using a novel organic material, nitrocellulose (NC), which is biocompatible with high water‐resistance and high flexibility. The fabricated NC‐based RRAMs show a stable bipolar resistive switching characteristic. In addition, the formation of a native Al oxide between Al and NC is verified, which is the source of the bipolar switching characteristic of NC‐based RRAMs. Furthermore, electrical and chemical analysis is conducted after dipping and submersion into various solutions as well as deionized water to confirm the water‐resistance of the NC‐based RRAMs. Finally, it is also confirmed that NC‐based RRAMs are suitable for use in skin‐attachable wearable devices through a flexibility test. In conclusion, this study suggests that NC‐based RRAMs can be applied in skin‐attachable wearable devices, simplifying healthcare in the future.     

Extraordinarily Sensitive and Low‐Voltage Operational Cloth‐Based Electronic Skin for Wearable Sensing and Multifunctional Integration Uses: A Tactile‐Induced Insulating‐to‐Conducting Transition

Electronic skin sensing devices are an emerging technology and have substantial demand in vast practical fields including wearable sensing, robotics, and user‐interactive interfaces. In order to imitate or even outperform the capabilities of natural skin, the keen exploration of materials, device structures, and new functions is desired. However, the very high resistance and the inadequate current switching and sensitivity of reported electronic skins hinder to further develop and explore the promising uses of the emerging sensing devices. Here, a novel resistive cloth‐based skin‐like sensor device is reported that possesses unprecedented features including ultrahigh current‐switching behavior of ≈10⁷ and giant high sensitivity of 1.04 × 10⁴–6.57 × 10⁶ kPa^?1 in a low‐pressure region of <3 kPa. Notably, both superior features can be achieved by a very low working voltage of 0.1 V. Taking these remarkable traits, the device not only exhibits excellent sensing abilities to various mechanical forces, meeting various applications required for skin‐like sensors, but also demonstrates a unique competence to facile integration with other functional devices for various purposes with ultrasensitive capabilities. Therefore, the new methodologies presented here enable to greatly enlarge and advance the development of versatile electronic skin applications.     

Multicomponent Hierarchical Cu‐Doped NiCo‐LDH/CuO Double Arrays for Ultralong‐Life Hybrid Fiber Supercapacitor

Fiber supercapacitors have aroused great interest in the field of portable and wearable electronic devices. However, the restrained surface area of fibers and limited reaction kinetics of active materials are unfavorable for performance enhancement. Herein, an efficient multicomponent hierarchical structure is constructed by integrating the Cu‐doped cobalt copper carbonate hydroxide@nickel cobalt layered double hydroxide (CCCH@NiCo‐LDH) core–shell nanowire arrays (NWAs) on Cu fibers with highly conductive Au‐modified CuO nanosheets (CCCH@NiCo‐LDH NWAs@Au–CuO/Cu) via a novel in situ corrosion growth method. This multicomponent hierarchical structure contributes to a large accessible surface area, which results in sufficient permeation of the electrolyte. The Cu dopant could reduce the work function and facilitate fast charge transfer kinetics. Therefore, the effective ion diffusion and electron conduction will facilitate the electrochemical reaction kinetics of the electrode. Benefiting from this unique structure, the electrode delivers a high specific capacitance (1.97 F cm^?2/1237 F g^?1/193.3 mAh g^?1) and cycling stability (90.8% after 30 000 cycles), exhibiting superb performance compared with most oxide‐based fiber electrodes. Furthermore, the hybrid fiber supercapacitor of CCCH@NiCo‐LDH NWAs@Au–CuO/Cu//VN/carbon fibers is fabricated, providing a remarkable maximal energy density of 34.97 Wh kg^?1 and a power density of 13.86 kW kg^?1, exhibiting a great potential in high‐performance fiber‐shape energy‐related systems.     

Wearable,Healable, and Adhesive Epidermal Sensors Assembled from Mussel‐Inspired Conductive Hybrid Hydrogel Framework

Healable, adhesive, wearable, and soft human‐motion sensors for ultrasensitive human–machine interaction and healthcare monitoring are successfully assembled from conductive and human‐friendly hybrid hydrogels with reliable self‐healing capability and robust self‐adhesiveness. The conductive, healable, and self‐adhesive hybrid network hydrogels are prepared from the delicate conformal coating of conductive functionalized single‐wall carbon nanotube (FSWCNT) networks by dynamic supramolecular cross‐linking among FSWCNT, biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol, and polydopamine. They exhibit fast self‐healing ability (within 2 s), high self‐healing efficiency (99%), and robust adhesiveness, and can be assembled as healable, adhesive, and soft human‐motion sensors with tunable conducting channels of pores for ions and framework for electrons for real time and accurate detection of both large‐scale and tiny human activities (including bending and relaxing of fingers, walking, chewing, and pulse). Furthermore, the soft human‐motion sensors can be enabled to wirelessly monitor the human activities by coupling to a wireless transmitter. Additionally, the in vitro cytotoxicity results suggest that the hydrogels show no cytotoxicity and can facilitate cell attachment and proliferation. Thus, the healable, adhesive, wearable, and soft human‐motion sensors have promising potential in various wearable, wireless, and soft electronics for human–machine interfaces, human activity monitoring, personal healthcare diagnosis, and therapy.     

AgI/Ag Heterojunction Nanowires: Facile Electrochemical Synthesis,Photoluminescence, and Enhanced Ionic Conductivity

The construction of an electronic‐conductor/ionic‐conductor heterojunction in a well‐defined nanostructure is the basis of studying interfacial and bulk transport and the reactions of ions and electrons at the nanoscale level. An ionic‐conductor/metal (AgI/Ag) heterostructured nanowire array is easily fabricated by a template‐confined, step‐electrochemical technique. The structural and morphological evolution of the AgI/Ag heterostructure before and after its release from the anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and optical spectroscopy. The structural disordering of released AgI is suggested by the appearance of a broad photoluminescence emission band at longer wavelengths and a short‐range‐order‐like Raman peak. The ionic conductivity of the AgI nanowire embedded inside the insulating AAO membrane is measured as being on the order of 10^–3 S cm^–1, which is an enhancement by two to three orders of magnitude compared with that of bulk polycrystalline AgI at room temperature. This electrochemical method could be useful in fabricating other pure and mixed ionic conductors in heterojunction nanostructures.     

Frequency Selectivity via Inner Boundary Conditions for A Self-Powered Multiresonant Acoustic Sensing Array with Broad Bandwidth

This study investigates and proposes innovative approaches to achieve frequency selectivity within a limited space. Traditional multiresonant acoustic devices use individual sensing elements of varying sizes to achieve resonance frequency (f_r), leading to an inability to sense focused acoustic waves, unlike the human ear. A miniaturized, self-powered artificial basilar membrane that incorporates multiresonant features is introduced. Multiple f_r of the diaphragms are developed using inner boundary conditions (iBCs) defined by an adjustable micropatterned elastomeric support (µ-support) and a porous nanofiber (NF) mat. This new approach offers the advantage of all-in-one fabrication, eliminating the need for device area variation or an additional rigid frame typically required in conventional multiresonant acoustic devices. The efficacy of the iBCs in shifting f_r within the vocal frequency ranges is verified via a laser Doppler vibrometer, simulation, and triboelectric output. With its self-powering capabilities based on triboelectric principles, this artificial basilar membrane holds promise for accurately recognizing musical and vocal signals with specific frequency characteristics. With four different iBCs in a total device area of 23 × 23 mm², a tunable four-channel system with f_r ranging from 400 to 3000 Hz is achieved. This advancement enables the sensing of focused acoustic waves, simulating the functionality of an artificial human ear model.     

Nanowire-Based Soft Wearable Human–Machine Interfaces for Future Virtual and Augmented Reality Applications

A virtual world has now become a reality as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology become commercially available. Similar to how humans interact with the physical world, AR and VR systems rely on human–machine interface (HMI) sensors to interact with the virtual world. Currently, this is achieved via state of-the-art wearable visual and auditory tools that are rigid, bulky, and burdensome, thereby causing discomfort during practical application. To this end, a skin sensory interface has the potential to serve as the next-generation AR/VR technology because skin-like wearable sensors have advantages in that they can be ultrathin, ultra-soft, conformal, and imperceptible, which provides the ultimate comfort and immersive experience for users. In this progress report, nanowire-based soft wearable HMI sensors including acoustic, strain, pressure sensors, and physiological sensors are reviewed that may be adopted as skin sensory inputs in future AR/VR systems. Further, nanowire-based soft contact lenses, haptic force, and thermal and vibration actuators are covered as potential means of feedback for future AR/VR systems. Considering the possible effects of the virtual world on human health, skin-like wearable artery pulses, glucose, and lactate sensors are also described, which may enable imperceptible health monitoring during future AR/VR practices.     

Resistive Switching in Bulk Silver Nanowire–Polystyrene Composites

Traditionally, bulk nanocomposites of electrically conducting particles and insulating polymers have been categorized as either insulating or conducting when the nanoparticle concentration is below or above the percolation threshold, respectively. Meanwhile, thin‐film polymer nanocomposites can exhibit resistive switching behavior appropriate for digital memory applications. Here, we present the first report of reversible resistive switching in bulk, glassy polymer nanocomposites. At compositions close to the electrical percolation threshold measured at low voltage, silver nanowire‐polystyrene nanocomposites demonstrate reversible resistive switching with increasing voltage at room temperature. Nanocomposites with compositions outside of this range exhibit either irreversible switching, or no switching at all. We propose that resistive switching in these materials is the result of the field‐induced formation of silver filaments that bridge adjacent nanowire clusters, extending the percolation network and decreasing the sample’s bulk resistivity. These findings break from the usual dichotomy of insulating or conducting properties in polymer nanocomposites and could inspire new devices that capitalize on this responsive behavior in these versatile materials.     

Highly Stretchable and Wearable Thermotherapy Pad with Micropatterned Thermochromic Display Based on Ag Nanowire–Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Composite

Due to the increasing interest in wearable devices, flexible and stretchable film heaters have been widely studied, as alternatives to heaters with conventional rigid shapes. Herein, a highly stretchable film heater (SFH) based on the silver nanowire (Ag NW)–single‐walled carbon nanotube composite with a thermochromic display on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate is successfully fabricated. The SFH shows excellent electrical conductivity, high mechanical stretchability, and outstanding reliability, with no significant degradation after 10 000 stretching cycles under tensile strain. The SFH can be heated to the target temperature (≈60 °C) within 30 s at a low applied voltage. In addition, a thermochromic display is fabricated to help prevent the risk of low‐temperature burns. Red (R), green (G), and blue (B) thermochromic microparticles (TMPs) are synthesized using drop‐based microfluidic technology. The TMPs show RGB colors at room temperature but change to a white color above a certain temperature. The TMPs are arrayed into a PDMS stencil on the basis of their particle sizes using the rubbing technique. The micropatterned thermochromic display, which functions as a visual alarm, combined with the SFH can pave the way for the development of thermotherapy pads for next‐generation wearable devices in the medical field.