Enhanced Sensitivity and Stability of Wearable Temperature Sensors: A Novel Approach Using PEDOT:PSS

Abstract

This work presents a wearable temperature sensor fabricated by inkjet printing Poly(3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) ink, with a top layer of extrusion-printed silver ink serving as electrodes, on both glass and cotton-based fabric substrates. PEDOT:PSS, a widely used conductive polymer, was selected for its affordability, conductivity, and biocompatibility. The sensors demonstrated excellent humidity resistance with enhanced conductivity, making them ideal for wearable technology applications. The glass-based benchmark sensor exhibited a resistance change of approximately 30% across a temperature range of 23 to 40 °C, with a sensitivity exceeding 1.7% per °C. In comparison, the fabric-based sensor, designed for wearable applications, showed a 20% decrease in resistance with a sensitivity greater than 0.65% per °C. This represents a notable enhancement compared to values reported in the literature. Both sensors exhibited a strong linear relationship between temperature and resistance, with coefficients of determination (R²) of 0.995 and 0.779 for the glass and fabric sensors, respectively. These results highlight the potential of fabric-integrated sensors for wearable applications, offering reliable performance and temperature sensitivity comparable to traditional glass-based sensors.