Wearable technology

Quantum mechanics

Engineering

Elastomer

Materials science

Boron nitride

Graphene

Embedded system

Thermal conductivity

Thermal resistance

Nanocomposite

Power (physics)

Computer science

Durability

Mechanical engineering

Physics

Thermal management of electronic devices and systems

Nanotechnology

Thermal

Wearable computer

Electronics

Reliability (semiconductor)

Composite material

Thermoplastic polyurethane

Meteorology

Electrical engineering

Nature Communications

Resistance change under mechanical stimuli arouses mass operational heat, damaging the performance, lifetime, and reliability of stretchable electronic devices, therefore rapid thermal heat dissipating is necessary. Here we report a stretchable strain sensor with outstanding thermal management. Besides a high stretchability and sensitivity testified by human motion monitoring, as well as long-term durability, an enhanced thermal conductivity from the casted thermoplastic polyurethane-boron nitride nanosheets layer helps rapid heat transmission to the environments, while the porous electrospun fibrous thermoplastic polyurethane membrane leads to thermal insulation. A 32% drop of the real time saturated temperature is achieved. For the first time we in-situ investigated the dynamic operational temperature fluctuation of stretchable electronics under repeating stretching-releasing processes. Finally, cytotoxicity test confirms that the nanofillers are tightly restricted in the nanocomposites, making it harmless to human health. All the results prove it an excellent candidate for the next-generation of wearable devices.

A high performance wearable strain sensor with advanced thermal management for motion monitoring