Scalable Manufactured Self-Healing Strain Sensors Based on Ion-Intercalated Graphene Nanosheets and Interfacial Coordination

Desirable mechanical strength and self-healing performance are very important to highly sensitive and stretchable sensors to meet their practical applications. However, balancing these two key performance parameters is still a great challenge. Herein, we present a simple, large-scale, and cost-efficient route to fabricate autonomously self-healing strain sensors with satisfactory mechanical properties. Specifically, ion-intercalated mechanical milling was utilized to realize the large-scale preparation of graphene nanosheets (GNs). Then, a well organized GN-nanostructured network was constructed in a rubber matrix based on interfacial metal-ligand coordination. The resultant nanocomposites show desirable mechanical properties (similar to 5 times higher than that of control sample without interfacial coordination), excellent self-healing performance (even healable in various harsh conditions, for example, underwater, at subzero temperature or exposed in acidic and alkaline conditions), and ultrahigh sensitivity (gauge factor approximate to 45 573.1). The elaborately designed strain sensors offer a feasible approach for the scalable production of self-healing strain-sensing devices, making it promising for further applications, including artificial skin, smart robotics, and other electrical devices.