Protein Inspired Self-Healable Ti3C2 MXenes/Rubber-Based Supramolecular Elastomer for Intelligent Sensing.

Progress towards the integration of electronic sensors with signal processing system is important to artificial intelligent and smart robotics. It demands mechanically robust, highly sensitive and self-healable sensing materials which could generate discernible electric variations responding to external stimuli. Here, inspired by the supramolecular interactions of amino acid residues in proteins, we report a self-healable nanostructured Ti3C2 MXenes/rubber-based supramolecular elastomer (NMSE) for intelligent sensing. MXenes nanoflakes modified with serine through esterification reaction assemble with elastomer matrix, constructing delicate dynamic supramolecular hydrogen bonding interfaces. NMSE features desirable recovered toughness (12.34 MJ/m3) and excellent self-healing performance (~100%) at room temperature. The NMSE-based sensor with high gauge factor (107.43), low strain detection limit (0.1%) and fast responding time (50 ms) can precisely detect subtle human motions (including speech, facial expression, pulse and heartbeat) and moisture variations even after cut/healing process. Moreover, NMSE-based sensors integrated with complete signal process system shows great feasibility for speech-controlled motions, which demonstrates promising potential in future wearable electronics and soft intelligent robotics.