Abstract
The booming of wearable electronics has nourished the progress on developing multifunctional energy storage systems with versatile flexibility, which enable the continuous and steady power supply even under various deformed states. In this sense, the synergy of flexible energy and electronic devices to construct integrative wearable microsystems is meaningful but remains quite challenging by far. Herein, we devise an innovative supercapacitor/sensor integrative wearable device that is based upon our designed vanadium nitride-graphene (VN-G) architectures. Flexible quasi-solid-state VN-G supercapacitor with ultralight and binder-free features deliver a specific capacitance of ~ 53 F·g−1 with good cycle stability. On the other hand, VN-G derived pressure sensors fabricated throughout a spray-printing process also manifest favorably high sensitivity (40 kPa−1 at the range of 2–10 kPa), fast response time (~ 130 ms), perfect skin conformability, and outstanding stability under static and dynamic pressure conditions. In turn, their complementary unity into a self-powered wearable sensor enables the precise detection of physiological motions ranging from pulse rate to phonetic recognition, holding promise for in-practical health monitoring applications.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Luo, N. Q.; Huang, Y.; Liu, J.; Chen, S. C.; Wong, C. P.; Zhao, N. Hollow-structured graphene-silicone-composite-based piezoresistive sensors: Decoupled property tuning and bending reliability. Adv. Mater. 2017, 29, 1702675.
Pan, L. J.; Chortos, A.; Yu, G. H.; Wang, Y. Q.; Isaacson, S.; Allen, R.; Shi, Y.; Dauskardt, R.; Bao, Z. N. An ultra-sensitive resistive pressure sensor based on hollow-sphere microstructure induced elasticity in conducting polymer film. Nat. Commun. 2014, 5, 3002.
Lee, S.; Reuveny, A.; Reeder, J.; Lee, S.; Jin, H.; Liu, Q. H.; Yokota, T.; Sekitani, T.; Isoyama, T.; Abe, Y. et al. A transparent bending-insensitive pressure sensor. Nat. Nanotechnol. 2016, 11, 472–478.
Wang, H.; Wu, H.; Hasan, D.; He, T.; Shi, Q. F.; Lee, C. Self-powered dual-mode amenity sensor based on the water-air triboelectric nanogenerator. ACS Nano 2017, 11, 10337–10346.
Wang, T.; Yang, H.; Qi, D. P.; Liu, Z. Y.; Cai, P. Q.; Zhang, H.; Chen, X. D. Mechano-based transductive sensing for wearable healthcare. Small 2018, 14, 1702933.
Cheng, Y. L.; Wang, C. Y.; Zhong, J. W.; Lin, S. Z.; Xiao, Y. J.; Zhong, Q. Z.; Jiang, H. L.; Wu, N.; Li, W. B.; Chen, S. W. et al. Electrospun polyetherimide electret nonwoven for bi-functional smart face mask. Nano Energy 2017, 34, 562–569.
Chen, H. T.; Su, Z. M.; Song, Y.; Cheng, X. L.; Chen, X. X.; Meng, B.; Song, Z. J.; Chen, D. M.; Zhang, H. X. Omnidirectional bending and pressure sensor based on stretchable CNT-PU sponge. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2017, 27, 1604434.
Zhong, Q. Z.; Zhong, J. W.; Cheng, X. F.; Yao, X.; Wang, B.; Li, W. B.; Wu, N.; Liu, K.; Hu, B.; Zhou, J. Paper-based active tactile sensor array. Adv. Mater. 2015, 27, 7130–7136.
Qi, K.; He, J. X.; Wang, H. B.; Zhou, Y. M.; You, X. L.; Nan, N.; Shao, W. L.; Wang, L. D.; Ding, B.; Cui, S. Z. A highly stretchable nanofiber-based electronic skin with pressure-, strain-, and flexion-sensitive properties for health and motion monitoring. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2017, 9, 42951–42960.
Wu, X. D.; Han, Y. Y.; Zhang, X. X.; Zhou, Z. H.; Lu, C. H. Large-area compliant, low-cost, and versatile pressure-sensing platform based on microcrack-designed carbon black@polyurethane sponge for human-machine interfacing. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2016, 26, 6246–6256.
Lv, L. X.; Zhang, P. P.; Xu, T.; Qu, L. T. Ultrasensitive pressure sensor based on an ultralight sparkling graphene block. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2017, 9, 22885–22892.
Tao, L. Q.; Zhang, K. N.; Tian, H.; Liu, Y.; Wang, D. Y.; Chen, Y. Q.; Yang, Y.; Ren, T. L. Graphene-paper pressure sensor for detecting human motions. ACS Nano 2017, 11, 8790–8795.
Liao, X. Q.; Liao, Q. L.; Zhang, Z.; Yan, X. Q.; Liang, Q. J.; Wang, Q. Y.; Li, M. H.; Zhang, Y. A highly stretchable ZnO@fiber-based multifunctional nanosensor for strain/temperature/UV detection. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2016, 26, 3074–3081.
Lou, Z.; Chen, S.; Wang, L. L.; Jiang, K.; Shen, G. Z. An ultra-sensitive and rapid response speed graphene pressure sensors for electronic skin and health monitoring. Nano Energy 2016, 23, 7–14.
Yao, H. B.; Ge, J.; Wang, C. F.; Wang, X.; Hu, W.; Zheng, Z. J.; Ni, Y.; Yu, S. H. A flexible and highly pressure-sensitive graphene-polyurethane sponge based on fractured microstructure design. Adv. Mater. 2013, 25, 6692–6698.
Wang, L. L.; Jackman, J. A.; Tan, E. L.; Park, J. H.; Potroz, M. G.; Hwang, E. T.; Cho, N. J. High-performance, flexible electronic skin sensor incorporating natural microcapsule actuators. Nano Energy 2017, 36, 38–45.
Li, W. G.; Xu, X. B.; Liu, C.; Tekell, M. C.; Ning, J.; Guo, J. H.; Zhang, J. C.; Fan, D. L. Ultralight and binder-free all-solid-state flexible supercapacitors for powering wearable strain sensors. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2017, 27, 1702738.
Song, Y.; Chen, H. T.; Su, Z. M.; Chen, X. X.; Miao, L. M.; Zhang, J. X.; Cheng, X. L.; Zhang, H. X. Highly compressible integrated supercapacitor–piezoresistance-sensor system with CNT-PDMS sponge for health monitoring. Small 2017, 13, 1702091.
Ai, Y. F.; Lou, Z.; Chen, S.; Chen, D.; Wang, Z. M.; Jiang, K.; Shen, G. Z. All rGO-on-PVDF-nanofibers based self-powered electronic skins. Nano Energy 2017, 35, 121–127.
Wu, N.; Cheng, X. F.; Zhong, Q. Z.; Zhong, J. W.; Li, W. B.; Wang, B.; Hu, B.; Zhou, J. Cellular polypropylene piezoelectret for human body energy harvesting and health monitoring. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2015, 25, 4788–4794.
Pan, Z. C.; Jiang, Y. C.; Yang, P. Y.; Wu, Z. Y.; Tian, W. C.; Liu, L.; Song, Y.; Gu, Q. F.; Sun, D. L.; Hu, L. F. In situ growth of layered bimetallic ZnCo hydroxide nanosheets for high-performance all-solid-state pseudocapacitor. ACS Nano 2018, 12, 2968–2979.
Feng, L. X.; Wang, K.; Zhang, X.; Sun, X. Z.; Li, C.; Ge, X. B.; Ma, Y. W. Flexible solid-state supercapacitors with enhanced performance from hic liquid incorporated gel polymer electrolyte. Adv.erarchically graphene nanocomposite electrodes and ioni Funct. Mater. 2018, 28, 1704463.
Zhao, J. X.; Li, C. W.; Zhang, Q. C.; Zhang, J.; Wang, X. N.; Lin, Z. Y.; Wang, J. J.; Lv, W. B.; Lu, C. H.; Wong, C. P. et al. An all-solid-state, lightweight, and flexible asymmetric supercapacitor based on cabbage-like ZnCo2O4 and porous VN nanowires electrode materials. J. Mater. Chem. A 2017, 5, 6928–6936.
Zhang, W. L.; Xu, C.; Ma, C. Q.; Li, G. X.; Wang, Y. Z.; Zhang, K. Y.; Li, F.; Liu, C.; Cheng, H. M.; Du, Y. W. et al. Nitrogen-superdoped 3D graphene networks for high-performance supercapacitors. Adv. Mater. 2017, 29, 1701677.
Liu, T.; Zhang, L. Y.; You, W.; Yu, J. G. Core-shell nitrogen-doped carbon hollow spheres/Co3O4 nanosheets as advanced electrode for high-performance supercapacitor. Small 2018, 14, 1702407.
Jin, Y.; Chen, H. Y.; Chen, M. H.; Liu, N.; Li, Q. W. Graphene-patched CNT/MnO2 nanocomposite papers for the electrode of high-performance flexible asymmetric supercapacitors. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2013, 5, 3408–3416.
Qin, T. F.; Liu, B. L.; Wen, Y. X.; Wang, Z. L.; Jiang, X. Y.; Wan, Z. Y.; Peng, S. L.; Cao, G. Z.; He, D. Y. Freestanding flexible graphene foams@polypyrrole@MnO2 electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors. J. Mater. Chem. A 2016, 4, 9196–9203.
Xiong, T.; Lee, W. S. V.; Huang, X. L.; Xue, J. M. Mn3O4/reduced graphene oxide based supercapacitor with ultra-long cycling performance. J. Mater. Chem. A 2017, 5, 12762–12768.
Ouyang, Y.; Xia, X. F.; Ye, H. T.; Wang, L.; Jiao, X. Y.; Lei, W.; Hao, Q. L. Three-dimensional hierarchical structure ZnO@c@NiO on carbon cloth for asymmetric supercapacitor with enhanced cycle stability. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2018, 10, 3549–3561.
Lu, X. H.; Yu, M. H.; Zhai, T.; Wang, G. M.; Xie, S. L.; Liu, T. Y.; Liang, C. L.; Tong, Y. X.; Li, Y. High energy density asymmetric quasi-solid-state supercapacitor based on porous vanadium nitride nanowire anode. Nano Lett. 2013, 13, 2628–2633.
Song, Y. Z.; Zhao, W.; Kong, L.; Zhang, L.; Zhu, X. Y.; Shao, Y. L.; Ding, F.; Zhang, Q.; Sun, J. Y.; Liu, Z. F. Synchronous immobilization and conversion of polysulfides on a VO2-VN binary host targeting high sulfur load Li–S batteries. Energy Environ. Sci. 2018, 11, 2620–2630.
Song, Y. Z.; Zhao, W.; Wei, N.; Zhang, L.; Ding, F.; Liu, Z. F.; Sun, J. Y. In-situ PECVD-enabled graphene-V2O3 hybrid host for lithium–sulfur batteries. Nano Energy 2018, 53, 432–439.
Mo, R. W.; Rooney, D.; Sun, K. N.; Yang, H. Y. 3D nitrogen-doped graphene foam with encapsulated germanium/nitrogen-doped graphene yolk-shell nanoarchitecture for high-performance flexible li-ion battery. Nat. Commun. 2017, 8, 13949.
He, Y. M.; Chen, W. J.; Li, X. D.; Zhang, Z. X.; Fu, J. C.; Zhao, C. H.; Xie, E. Q. Freestanding three-dimensional graphene/MnO2 composite networks as ultralight and flexible supercapacitor electrodes. ACS Nano 2013, 7, 174–182.
Cheng, Y. L.; Huang, L.; Xiao, X.; Yao, B.; Yuan, L. Y.; Li, T. Q.; Hu, Z. M.; Wang, B.; Wan, J.; Zhou, J. Flexible and cross-linked N-doped carbon nanofiber network for high performance freestanding supercapacitor electrode. Nano Energy 2015, 15, 66–74.
Wang, G. M.; Wang, H. Y.; Lu, X. H.; Ling, Y. C.; Yu, M. H.; Zhai, T.; Tong, Y. X.; Li, Y. Solid-state supercapacitor based on activated carbon cloths exhibits excellent rate capability. Adv. Mater. 2014, 26, 2676–2682.
Cheng, Y. W.; Lu, S. T.; Zhang, H. B.; Varanasi, C. V.; Liu, J. Synergistic effects from graphene and carbon nanotubes enable flexible and robust electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors. Nano Lett. 2012, 12, 4206–4211.
Wang, R. T.; Yan, X. B.; Lang, J. W.; Zheng, Z. M.; Zhang, P. A hybrid supercapacitor based on flower-like Co(OH)2 and urchin-like VNelectrode materials. J. Mater. Chem. A 2014, 2, 12724–12732.
Lu, X. H.; Yu, M. H.; Wang, G. M.; Zhai, T.; Xie, S. L.; Ling, Y. C.; Tong, Y. X.; Li, Y. H-TiO2@MnO2//H-TiO2@C core-shell nanowires for high performance and flexible asymmetric supercapacitors. Adv. Mater. 2013, 25, 267–272.
Wang, R. T.; Lang, J. W.; Zhang, P.; Lin, Z. Y.; Yan, X. B. Fast and large lithium storage in 3D porous VN nanowires-graphene composite as a superior anode toward high-performance hybrid supercapacitors. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2015, 25, 2270–2278.
Liu, W. J.; Liu, N. S.; Yue, Y.; Rao, J. Y.; Cheng, F.; Su, J.; Liu, Z. T.; Gao, Y. H. Piezoresistive pressure sensor based on synergistical innerconnect polyvinyl alcohol nanowires/wrinkled graphene film. Small 2018, 14, 1704149.
Ma, Y. N.; Yue, Y.; Zhang, H.; Cheng, F.; Zhao, W. Q.; Rao, J. Y.; Luo, S. J.; Wang, J.; Jiang, X. L.; Liu, Z. T. et al. 3D synergistical mxene/reduced graphene oxide aerogel for a piezoresistive sensor. ACS Nano 2018, 12, 3209–3216.
Wang, Q.; Jian, M. Q.; Wang, C. Y.; Zhang, Y. Y. Carbonized silk nanofiber membrane for transparent and sensitive electronic skin. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2017, 27, 1605657.
Pang, Y.; Zhang, K. N.; Yang, Z.; Jiang, S.; Ju, Z. Y.; Li, Y. X.; Wang, X. F.; Wang, D. Y.; Jian, M. Q.; Zhang, Y. Y. et al. Epidermis microstructure inspired graphene pressure sensor with random distributed spinosum for high sensitivity and large linearity. ACS Nano 2018, 12, 2346–2354.
Kim, K. H.; Hong, S. K.; Jang, N. S.; Ha, S. H.; Lee, H. W.; Kim, J. M. Wearable resistive pressure sensor based on highly flexible carbon composite conductors with irregular surface morphology. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2017, 9, 17499–17507.
Zhao, X. H.; Ma, S. N.; Long, H.; Yuan, H. Y.; Tang, C. Y.; Cheng, P. K.; Tsang, Y. H. Multifunctional sensor based on porous carbon derived from metal-organic frameworks for real time health monitoring. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2018, 10, 3986–3993.
Nichols, W. W. Clinical measurement of arterial stiffness obtained from noninvasive pressure waveforms. Am. J. Hypertens. 2005, 18, 3S–10S.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2016YFA0200103), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51702225, 21473119, 51675275, 51520105003, and 51432002), and Jiangsu Youth Science Foundation (BK20170336). L. H. Y., Y. Y. Y., Y. Z. S., Z. X., N. W., Z. N. T., L. Z., Z. F. L., and J. Y. S. acknowledge the support from Suzhou Key Laboratory for Advanced Carbon Materials and Wearable Energy Technologies, Suzhou, China. J. Y. S. acknowledges the support from the Thousand Youth Talents Plan of China.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Electronic Supplementary Material
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yu, L., Yi, Y., Yao, T. et al. All VN-graphene architecture derived self-powered wearable sensors for ultrasensitive health monitoring. Nano Res. 12, 331–338 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-018-2219-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-018-2219-1