High-performance flexible temperature sensor from hybrid nanocomposite for continuous human body temperature monitoring

Combining high sensitivity with fast response and high resolution remains a critical challenge for flexible temperature sensors. The present study leverages the intrinsically high surface-to-volume ratio of nanocomposite fibers as well as the high mechanical properties of nanomaterials for achieving conformable temperature sensors with accurate and fast detection of temperature. To achieve this, nanocomposite films of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with embedded silver (Ag) nanoparticles were layered with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The sensor showed a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) with excellent sensitivity of 0.18%/degrees C and a quick response rate of 11 s. The sensor also exhibited low self-heating errors for an activation current of 1 mA and excellent anti-interference ability when tested for bending forces and wet environments. The nanocomposite fiber-based sensor can be used for real-time monitoring of human body temperature as confirmed by successful experiments. The present work lays the foundation for integrating the sensor further with a user interface to create a wearable temperature monitoring system for mobile healthcare.