Ultrasensitive, stretchable, and transparent humidity sensor based on ion-conductive double-network hydrogel thin films

Ion-conductive hydrogels with intrinsic biocompatibility, stretchability, and stimuli-responsive capability have attracted considerable attention because of their extensive application potential in wearable sensing devices. The miniaturization and integration of hydrogel-based devices are currently expected to achieve breakthroughs in device performance and promote their practical application. However, currently, hydrogel film is rarely reported because it can be easily wrinkled, torn, and dehydrated, which severely hinders its development in microelectronics. Herein, thin, stretchable, and transparent ion-conductive double-network hydrogel films with controllable thickness are integrated with stretchable elastomer substrates, which show good environmental stability and ultrahigh sensitivity to humidity (78,785.5%/% relative humidity (RH)). Benefiting from the ultrahigh surface-area-to-volume ratio, abundant active sites, and short diffusion distance, the hydrogel film humidity sensor exhibits 2 × 10⁵ times increased response to 98% RH, as well as 5.9 and 7.6 times accelerated response and recovery speeds compared with the bulk counterpart, indicating its remarkable thickness-dependent humidity-sensing properties. The humidity-sensing mechanism reveals that the adsorption of water improves the ion migration and dielectric constant, as well as establishes the electrical double layer. Furthermore, the noncontact human-machine interaction and real-time respiratory frequency detection are enabled by the sensors. This work provides an innovative strategy to achieve further breakthroughs in device performance and promote the development of hydrogel-based miniaturized and integrated electronics.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]