MXene-enhanced PDMS aerogels: Leveraging a Pickering emulsion strategy for advanced sensing applications

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is known for its exceptional mechanical stability, chemical resistance, and biocompatibility, making it highly suitable for flexible sensors. However, its inherently insulating properties limit its direct application as a sensing material, and its hydrophobic nature poses challenges for effective integration with conductive materials. To overcome these challenges, the present study proposes an innovative strategy that utilizes PDMS as the matrix material while MXene as a conductive filler, aiming to fabricate PDMS aerogels through a Pickering emulsion method. In this process, MXene nanosheets are first functionalized with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), enhancing both emulsification and gelation to stabilize the Pickering emulsion composed of PDMS and MXene. Simultaneously, the modified MXene nanosheets act as precursors for constructing the aerogel framework. This method not only promotes the formation of a robust 3D PDMS network but also creates a stable, efficient conductive pathway using MXene nanosheets. The resulting aerogels exhibit remarkable flexibility, elasticity (>90 %), and compressive strength (9.3 MPa). Therefore, with a high sensitivity of 28.7 kPa− 1 and exceptional electromechanical performance, the PCM sensor is well-suited for applications in human health detection and mechanical equipment monitoring. Furthermore, the PCM sensor can also be integrated with robotic arm for intelligent sensing tasks, showcasing significant potential for next-generation smart devices.