Ultra-thin High-sensitivity Carbon Nanofiber Membranes: Innovations in Health Monitoring and Emergency Communications

With the rapid expansion of the smart wearable device market, the demand for advanced materials and technologies with high sensitivity and stability is growing significantly. This paper presents an innovative technique for fabricating polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber membranes via electrospinning, using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a pore-forming agent. The nanofibers were carbonized at high temperatures to obtain porous conductive carbonized nanofiber membranes, which were further compounded with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) using vacuum filtration to enhance mechanical flexibility and integration potential.

To evaluate the sensor's performance, sensitivity, response time, detection limit, and stability tests were conducted. The resistance change under pressures ranging from 0–50 kPa was measured, yielding a sensitivity of 101.22 kPa⁻¹, demonstrating excellent pressure sensing capabilities. Using precise dynamic loading equipment, the response time was recorded as only 20 ms, ensuring rapid signal transmission. By gradually reducing the applied pressure, the minimum detectable pressure was determined to be 5 Pa, indicating the ability to detect subtle pressure changes. Stability tests revealed that after 7000 loading/unloading cycles, the resistance remained stable with negligible variation, demonstrating exceptional durability and reliability.

This porous conductive carbonized nanofiber membrane shows broad application potential in fields such as smart textiles, biomedicine, and environmental monitoring. In particular, it enables the development of efficient and accurate health monitoring systems in smart wearable devices, supporting continuous physiological and environmental data collection. These findings provide a solid foundation for further research into high-performance composite materials and sensor interfaces, paving the way for innovations in the field of smart materials.