Porous polymers: structure, fabrication and application
This review systematically examines the structural features, fabrication techniques, and applications of porous polymers, as well as their interrelationships, to serve as a guide for researchers.
Review Article
Empowering artificial muscles with intelligence: recent advancements in materials, designs, and manufacturing
This review emphasizes memory-based intelligence, enabling artificial muscles to execute a range of pre-programmed movements and refresh stored actuation states in response to changing conditions, as well as sensory-based intelligence.
Communication
A novel thickness-gradient electrospun nanomesh for interface-free e-skin applications
A seamless thickness-gradient nanomesh eliminates abrupt interfaces between soft e-skin and rigid interconnectors. This continuous concept enhances mechanical and electrical durability, and integration with textiles for next-generation wearables.
Communication
Ultrathin and permeable silver nanowires/polyvinyl alcohol epidermal electrode for continuous electrophysiological monitoring
The ultrathin AgNWs/PVA gel electrode with high stretchability, strong adhesion, and excellent air permeance to ensure stable, high-fidelity and long-term electrophysiological monitoring.
Highly sensitive strain sensors with ultra-low detection limit based on pre-defined serpentine cracks
In this study, we introduce a novel resistive strain sensor with high sensitivity, excellent linearity, and an ultra-low detection limit by simply modulating ohmic contact within pre-defined conductive cracks.
About this collection
Next-generation soft wearable sensors hold significant promise for revolutionizing healthcare and human-computer interaction by providing seamless integration between the human body and electronic devices. These advanced systems, characterized by their flexibility, stretchability, and biocompatibility, enable continuous monitoring of physical parameters such as body motion, physiological parameters like heart rate, and biochemical markers like electrolytes and cortisol levels in sweat in real-time. This real-time data collection can lead to more personalized and timely medical interventions, enabling a shift from hospital-centred healthcare to patient-centred healthcare.
Beyond healthcare, next-generation soft wearable sensors have applications in fitness, sports, and augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR), paving the way for innovative approaches to human performance enhancement and interactive technologies. They offer significant advancements in human-machine interaction, enhancing experiences in the metaverse and beyond. This special collection across Materials Horizons and Nanoscale Horizons, guest edited by Professors John Rogers (Northwestern University, USA), Wenlong Cheng (University of Sydney, Australia), Alina Rwei (TU Delft, Netherlands), Dae-Hyeong Kim (Seoul National University, South Korea) and Nanshu Lu (University of Texas at Austin, USA), aims to provide a platform to showcase the recent progress and challenges in the field of soft wearable sensors addressing the exciting current challenges in biosensors, bioelectronics, medicine, healthcare, AR/VR and soft robotics.