High-Performance Integrated Self-Powered PNP Hydrogel Sensor for Wearable Human Monitoring

With the rapid advancement of wearable technologies, high-performance flexible sensors have garnered significant research interest. This study presents a PAM-5 hydrogel characterized by exceptional tensile strain (425%), superior compressive modulus (325 kPa), and notable ionic conductivity (1.1 S/m), serving as a robust mechanical framework and electrical foundation for developing advanced sensors. The PNP-5 integrated hydrogel sensor fabricated from this material demonstrates an extensive sensing range (2–53 kPa), remarkable sensitivity, and rapid response time (~321 ms), with its outstanding performance attributed to the synergistic structural design. Furthermore, the sensor exhibits excellent durability, maintaining consistent voltage output (~6.5 mV) across 1000 compression cycles, confirming its long-term operational stability. Through real-time monitoring of physiological signals and biomechanical movements including finger bending, respiration, and grasping, combined with spatial pressure mapping experiments using a 5 × 5 array touchpad, the device’s potential applications in wearable sensing platforms and human–machine interface systems are effectively demonstrated. This self-powered hydrogel sensor not only advances the performance metrics of flexible electronic devices but also establishes a solid experimental basis for future development of intelligent materials in health monitoring and interactive technologies.