Superelastic Fiber Aerogels for Wide-Temperature-Adaptive Monitoring and Personal Protection

Abstract

To effectively ensure the safety of workers in harsh working environments, it is crucial to develop a flexible aerogel sensor that integrates real-time monitoring and physical protection functions. Here, a parallel-sheet structured poly(amide-imide)/bismaleimide/benzoxazine (PAI/BMI/BA-a) fiber aerogel (denoted as PSPBB) was fabricated by ingeniously establishing the bridge-mediated dual affinity between fibers and ice crystals. Benefiting from the interactions of poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) with ice crystals, conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT):PSS chains underwent oriented assembly along with the directional growth of ice crystals, while being stably anchored to fibers by virtue of the interactions of PSS with polydopamine (PDA) on the fiber surface. The resultant PSPBB aerogels exhibited a robust scaffold, outstanding fatigue resistance (over 90% height retention after 200 compression cycles), stable sensing performance under 8000 compression cycles, and ultra-wide temperature adaptability (−196 °C to 200 °C). Additionally, the parallel sheets within porous aerogels contributed good thermal-insulation properties, providing real-time monitoring for physiological signals while also offering a critical personal protective barrier. These results underscore the potential of PSPBB aerogels for use in demanding sectors, such as industrial safety, firefighting, and aerospace.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Parallel-sheet structure / Poly(amide-imide) / Piezoresistive sensor / Thermal protection / Harsh environments

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(52203048)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China