Dual‐Functionality, Bio‐Friendly Artificial Muscles for Actuation and Motion Sensing in Smart Wearable Systems
Abstract
Herein, we report a biofriendly, air‐operating electrochemical platform based on a unipolar coiled carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn artificial muscle that can operate either as an ionic actuator or as an ionotronic strain sensor. The device comprises two coiled CNT yarn electrodes coated with complementary ion‐selective eutectogels, consisting of fixed‐charge polymer networks swollen with a diluted deep eutectic solvent (DES), enabling selective ion transport. Under an applied potential difference, the complementary electrochemical responses of both electrodes produce synchronized unipolar contraction, whereas in sensing mode the device generates a strain‐dependent open‐circuit voltage (OCV) variation. In actuation mode, the device achieves a maximal reversible contractile stroke of 2.9% under a 90 mN pre‐load. In sensing mode, it operates as a self‐powered strain sensor with a sensitivity of 0.5 mV.% −1 . Poisson–Nernst–Planck modelling is consistent with the proposed mechanism of strain‐induced ion redistribution within the quasi‐solid‐state matrix. Two yarn artificial muscles were woven into a custom‐made, bi‐stretch auxetic structure with a folded zigzag geometry, enabling parallel actuation and strain monitoring, delivering peak‐to‐peak OCV signals of 4 mV at 10% extension. Finally, we demonstrate a wireless wearable armband for real‐time motion monitoring, highlighting the potential of this platform for smart fabrics, wearable electronics, and adaptive soft robotics.
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BibTeX
@article{ananieva2026dualfunctionality,
title = {{Dual‐Functionality, Bio‐Friendly Artificial Muscles for Actuation and Motion Sensing in Smart Wearable Systems}},
author = {Gabriela Ananieva and Cédric Vancaeyzeele and Giao Nguyen and Frédéric Vidal and Thuan Nguyen Pham Truong and Nils‐krister Persson and Li Guo and Tommie Varekamp and Felix Dransfeld and Jasper Sikken and Bram Bicknese and Cédric Plesse},
journal = {Small},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1002/smll.75219},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05758300v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Dual‐Functionality, Bio‐Friendly Artificial Muscles for Actuation and Motion Sensing in Smart Wearable Systems
AU - Gabriela Ananieva
AU - Cédric Vancaeyzeele
AU - Giao Nguyen
AU - Frédéric Vidal
AU - Thuan Nguyen Pham Truong
AU - Nils‐krister Persson
AU - Li Guo
AU - Tommie Varekamp
AU - Felix Dransfeld
AU - Jasper Sikken
AU - Bram Bicknese
AU - Cédric Plesse
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/14
JO - Small
DO - 10.1002/smll.75219
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05758300v1
AB - Herein, we report a biofriendly, air‐operating electrochemical platform based on a unipolar coiled carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn artificial muscle that can operate either as an ionic actuator or as an ionotronic strain sensor. The device comprises two coiled CNT yarn electrodes coated with complementary ion‐selective eutectogels, consisting of fixed‐charge polymer networks swollen with a diluted deep eutectic solvent (DES), enabling selective ion transport. Under an applied potential difference, the complementary electrochemical responses of both electrodes produce synchronized unipolar contraction, whereas in sensing mode the device generates a strain‐dependent open‐circuit voltage (OCV) variation. In actuation mode, the device achieves a maximal reversible contractile stroke of 2.9% under a 90 mN pre‐load. In sensing mode, it operates as a self‐powered strain sensor with a sensitivity of 0.5 mV.% −1 . Poisson–Nernst–Planck modelling is consistent with the proposed mechanism of strain‐induced ion redistribution within the quasi‐solid‐state matrix. Two yarn artificial muscles were woven into a custom‐made, bi‐stretch auxetic structure with a folded zigzag geometry, enabling parallel actuation and strain monitoring, delivering peak‐to‐peak OCV signals of 4 mV at 10% extension. Finally, we demonstrate a wireless wearable armband for real‐time motion monitoring, highlighting the potential of this platform for smart fabrics, wearable electronics, and adaptive soft robotics.
SN - 1613-6810
SN - 1613-6829
ER -