Ultrafast dynamic response of waterproof stretchable strain sensors based on wrinkle-templated microcracking

Stretchable strain sensors simultaneously featuring a fast dynamic response, waterproof ability and a wide working strain range are highly required in practical applications. Here, we report a new class of high-performance strain sensors based on a wrinkle-templated microcracking mechanism involved in a strain-sensing bilayer configuration. Besides high stretchability, the resulting strain sensors with surface hierarchical micro/nanostructures have waterproof properties, ultrafast dynamic sensing behaviors (response time: similar to 0.08 ms) and ultrahigh sensitivity in the whole strain range. As demonstrated, the waterproof stretchable strain sensor has outstanding capability such as in vibration monitoring and voice recognition with a frequency up to 20 000 Hz, and as dynamic-sensing electronic skins even under harsh conditions (e.g., underwater and small and large strains simultaneously loaded). The wrinkle-templated microcracking mechanism offers a simple general guideline to design diverse microcracking-based stretchable devices with highly boosted performances.