FULLY SELF-HEALABLE AND HIGHLY STRETCHABLE FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTOR-BASED SENSOR

The use of flexible field-effect transistor (FET) for sensing applications offers considerable advantages over competing strategies, such as electrochemical sensors or chemiresistors. Nevertheless, present FET-based flexible sensors are highly susceptible to scratching, rupture, or other mechanical damages due to their soft nature. Therefore, self-healing capability, which is a vital function of the human skin, is highly desirable for such electronic devices. In this research, we have introduced the development, fabrication and characterization of a stretchable and fully self-healable FET based on polyurethane elastomer that recovers its electrical and structural properties under several cycles of cutting and healing. This new innovative device has a stable performance under 50% strain, and shows a good response to temperature, humidity, and a wide variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Combining all these properties, the reported device shall be a great fit for developing new self-sustainable wearable technologies and clinical diagnostic applications.