High-Performance Degradable PLA-Based Sensors with Enhanced Strain Sensing and Triboelectric Power Generation for Wearable Devices

In recent years, the advancement of flexible wearable smart electronic devices and in-depth research on triboelectric nanogenerators have created an urgent demand for multifunctional sensors exhibiting excellent strain-sensing performance, self-powering capability, high stability, and biodegradability. This study fabricates a Ketjen Black (KB)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fiber-based motion sensor via centrifugal spinning technology. The surfactant sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) was employed to enhance the dispersion uniformity of KB particles within the spinning solution, enabling their homogeneous distribution both inside and on the surface of PLA fibers. This configuration establishes intricate conductive pathways, ultimately yielding a nonwoven sensing material. The resulting sensor demonstrates lightweight and flexible characteristics, achieving a maximum resistance variation of 200% and a response time of 171.4 ms. It withstands long bending cycles without significant performance degradation. The triboelectric power generation capability was validated, with an output voltage reaching 80 V. Degradation experiments under alkaline conditions (pH 10) revealed a degradation rate of 89.4% after 30 h. This flexible fiber-based sensor exhibits significant potential for applications in intelligent wearable devices and healthcare monitoring systems.