Self-healing superhydrophobic MXene-based flexible sensors with convex array for sensing detection and anti/de-icing property

Flexible wearable sensors have drawn extensive attention due to their potential in electronic skin, healthcare monitoring, and environmental sensing applications. However, the common flexible sensors are constrained by their weak sensing sensitivity and poor durability to mechanical damage or chemical corrosion. Herein, a self-healing superhydrophobic Mxene-based flexible sensors of M-SPU@MXene@SiO 2 was prepared using thermo-compression molding and a dip-coating method, which exhibited excellent sensing performances and mechanical/chemical durability. The prepared M-SPU@MXene@SiO 2 is consisted of sandwich structure including the underlying layer of self-healing polyurethane (SPU) matrix with a convex array, the conductive MXene interlayer, and the superhydrophobic SiO 2 outer layer coating. By adjusting the multi-layer structure and chemical components, the M-SPU@MXene@SiO 2 exhibited outstanding mechanical strength (breaking strength of 9.5 MPa and breaking elongation of 1500%), self-healing property, superhydrophobicity with low adhesive force (22.5 μN), and excellent sensing performance (gauge factor of 251 and response time of 68 ms). Thus, this work offers valuable insights for preparing multifunctional flexible sensors with broad potential for applications across in healthcare monitoring, motion detection, waterproof electronic devices as well as other advanced fields.