Design of a multifunctional wearable fabric with a composite coating for waterproof and strain sensing functions

Flexible wearable fabric-based strain sensors have attracted considerable attention for human motion monitoring and healthcare; however, their practical deployment remains severely limited by performance degradation in humid or wet environments and insufficient durability under cyclic mechanical loading. Herein, we presented a multifunctional wearable fabric (MWF) featuring a composite coating with hierarchical structure, that simultaneously delivered outstanding strain-sensing performance and robust superhydrophobicity via a facile dip-spray combined coating process. The synergistic effect of the inner MXene and outer fluorinated Fe 3 O 4 /MWCNTs (F-Fe 3 O 4 /MWCNTs), endowed the MWF with broad-range strain responsiveness (up to 200% strain) and outstanding waterproof functions originated from the superhydrophobic surface. Importantly, the copolymer used as continuous phase of the composite coating, substantially reinforcing interfacial bonding between the coating and the elastic fabric skeleton, resulting in remarkable long-term durability, maintaining stable electrical response over 3600 cyclic stretching/releasing tests (50% strain) while preserving waterproof functionality even under 100% tensile deformation. This work provided a new method to fabricate durable and high-performance flexible strain sensors with wide sensing range and environmental robustness, addressing the persistent challenge that has long hindered the translation of wearable electronic fabrics from laboratory prototypes to real-world applications. Download: Download high-res image (183KB) Download: Download full-size image Design and fabrication schematic illustration of MWF.