A superior environmentally stable, sensitive, and low hysteretic graphene foam-based skin-like strain sensor for wearable applications

• The graphene foam/zwitterionic organohydrogel sensor with an enhanced interface between the graphene foam and the gel, exhibited low hysteresis (4.56 %) and rapid response time (199 ms) under cyclic deformation. • Utilizing graphene-based extension electrodes, this stretchable sensor demonstrates commendable sensing capabilities across an extensive operational range (0–100 kPa, 0–200 % strain) and long-term stability. • The capacitive-type sensor possesses remarkable water retention and sensing stability even under extreme temperatures (ranging from −20 to 100 °C). Wearable strain sensors with high performance offer promising application prospects for the development of human–machine interaction. Graphene foam, recognized as an optimal conductive network, is commonly utilized to fabricate flexible sensors incorporating polymers. However, they frequently encounter practical challenges, including significant hysteresis, a narrow working range, poor environmental tolerance, and low stability under prolonged cyclic loads. Herein, a capacitive-type sandwich graphene foam/zwitterionc organohydrogel sensor was designed and fabricated through a novel approach involving pore-forming procedure, chemical reduction, and in-situ polymerization. By virtue of graphene-based extension electrodes, this type of stretchable sensor possesses satisfactory sensing performance in a wide working range (0–100 kPa, 0–200 % stain), and reveals potential perception in detecting subtle deformed and acoustic disturbances. Furthermore, by incorporating the engineered zwitterionc polymer network and a binary solvent system, the capacitive-type sensor demonstrates remarkable stretchability, superior water retention, ultralow hysteresis, rapid response behavior (199 ms), and extreme temperatures tolerance (ranging from −20 to 100 °C). Importantly, exceptional stability can be achieved through over 10,000 repeated loading/unloading cycles, showcasing its remarkable potential for long-term use. This presents a novel approach for wearable electronics and health monitoring devices.