Wearable pressure sensors based on antibacterial and porous chitosan hydrogels for full-range human motion detection

Wearable pressure sensors made from conductive hydrogels hold significant potential in health monitoring. However, limited pressure range (Pa to hundreds of kPa) and inadequate antibacterial properties restrict their practical applications in diagnostic and health evaluation. Herein, a wearable high-performance pressure sensor was assembled using a facilely prepared porous chitosan-based hydrogel, which was constructed from commercial phenolphthalein particles as a sacrificial template. The relationship between the porosity of hydrogels and sensing performance of sensors was systematically explored. Herein, the wearable pressure sensor, featuring an optimized porosity of hydrogels, exhibits an ultrawide sensing capacity from 4.83 Pa to 250 kPa (range-to-limit ratio of 51,760) and high sensitivity throughout high pressure ranges (0.7 kPa⁻¹, 120–250 kPa). The presence of chitosan endows these hydrogels with outstanding antibacterial performance against E. coli and S. aureus, making them ideal candidates for use in wearable electronics. These features allow for a practical approach to monitor full-range human motion using a single device with a simple structure.