Bioinspired highly sensitive, recyclable sensors and energy harvesters based on styrene-isoprene-styrene-carbon nanotube/carbon black nanocomposites

Abstract

The rapid increase in electronic waste demands the advancement of closed-loop recyclable materials for stretchable electronics. Despite the advantageous characteristics of feasible fabrication and configurable electromechanical features, the use of conductive polymer nanocomposites as strain sensors is still limited by insufficient sensitivity and durability. Inspired by sand sagebrush-arid soil, a cracked styrene-isoprene-styrene‑carbon nanotube/carbon black conductive nanocomposite (SCCN) was employed for developing high-performance stretchable sensors. The nanocomposite exhibits ultra stretchability (~1200 %), high sensitivity (GF = 2155.65 at maximum 230 %), and the high durability (10,000 cycles at 50 % strain) among reported crack carbon-based strain sensing. The stretchable nanocomposites depict excellent sensing for real-time human body motions using a home-built Bluetooth and smartphone app. The recycled cracked SCCN structure can maintain similar chemical characteristics and a maximum sensitivity of 455.88, which confirms its capability to work from large to small strains. Simultaneously, the styrene-isoprene-styrene‑carbon nanotube/carbon black conductive nanocomposite can be employed as a single electrode triboelectric nanogenerator (SCCN-TENG) that provides sufficient power generation, good durability (10,000 cycles), and reliable self-powered capability for electronic devices. This bioinspired approach can improve polymer nanocomposite-based stretchy electronics and boost environmental sustainability through closed-loop recycling.