Laser-patterned Kirigami on conductive composites as multimodal sensors

This article presents an innovative and cost-effective technique that results in fabric-based conductive sensors that are critical to enhancing wearable technology and health monitoring systems. The sensing element is made of a conductive polymer, Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate)(PEDOT: PSS), that has been deposited on a metalized knitted fabric. Kirigami designs are also produced on the sensors via laser patterning. The use of conductive fabric, such as Silitex®, a relatively new material in the sensor industry, has several benefits, including biocompatibility, washability, and flexibility. The piezoresistive effect serves as the basis for the proposed sensing technique. The fabrication of Kirigami-based PEDOT: PSS/Silver knitted fabric sensors takes advantage of the distinct mechanical properties of the Kirigami pattern as well as the conductive capabilities of PEDOT: PSS and silver materials. In this paper, the fabrication and characterization of conductive fabric composite-based Kirigami electrodes for multimodal sensing applications are presented. The evaluation of low-cost, highly sensitive temperature and strain sensors is also presented. Finally, a suitable measurement circuit is designed for the sensors and is interfaced with the data acquisition system. The sensitivity of the temperature sensor was obtained as -0.04 to 1.35%/℃ for a temperature range of 25-100 ℃. • Kirigami-based flexible sensors were designed and developed. • The sensors were formed using novel knitted fabric, PEDOT: PSS and silver as the processed materials. • Laser-patterning was done to form the electrodes. • The sensors had certain advantages, like biocompatibility, washability, and flexibility. • The prototypes were used for low-cost, non-invasive strain and temperature sensing applications.