Thermometric hydrogel compositions, flexible thermal sensors comprising the same and methods of making thereof
AssigneeHong Kong Centre for Logistics Robotics Limited
InventorsDONGYAN XU, HAOXIANG WEI, YANG HAN, YANJUN DU
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Abstract
In some embodiments, provided is a thermometric hydrogel composition for thermal sensor and methods of making thereof, wherein the composition including at least one polyquaternium (PQ), at least one ion source and a solvent. In other aspect, provided is a device comprising the thermometric hydrogel composition and methods of making thereof. Other example embodiments are described herein. In certain embodiments, the flexible thermal sensor comprising such thermometric hydrogel composition has high flexibility, high thermal sensitivity and low fabrication cost.
Claims26
A thermometric hydrogel composition for thermal sensor, comprising:
- a) at least one polyquaternium (PQ) comprising at least one quaternary ammonium group;
- b) at least one ion source;
- and
- c) a solvent.
A method of preparing a thermometric hydrogel composition for thermal sensor, comprising the step of:
- a. mixing at least one polyquaternium (PQ) into a solution comprising at least one ion source to form a mixture;
- b. adjusting the pH value of the mixture to form a composition;
- c. drying the composition to a gel state, such that a PQ based ionic hydrogel is formed.
A flexible thermal sensor, comprising:
- a. a flexible substrate;
- b. a first flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) that is disposed on the flexible substrate, the first FPCB comprising:
- i. a plurality of first electrodes;
- and
- ii. a plurality of first connecting lines,
- wherein the individual first electrode is in electrical communication with the individual first connecting line;
- c. a mask layer that is disposed on the first FPCB;
- d. at least one PQ based ionic hydrogel;
- and
- e. an insulating layer that is disposed onto the first FPCB,
- wherein the mask layer comprises at least one receiving portion, defining at least one space that is sized and shaped large enough to receive at least a portion of the first electrodes and at least one remaining space to receive the at least one PQ based ionic hydrogel, such that at least a portion of the first electrodes is in electrical communication with the at least one PQ based ionic hydrogel.
A method of making a flexible thermal sensor, comprising:
- a. providing a first flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) onto a flexible substrate, wherein the first FPCB comprises a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of first connecting lines, wherein the individual first electrode is in electrical communication with the individual first connecting line;
- b. attaching at least one mask layer onto the first FPCB, wherein the mask layer comprises at least one receiving portion, defining at least one space that is sized and shaped large enough to receive at least a portion of the first electrodes and at least one remaining space to receive at least one PQ based ionic hydrogel;
- c. casting a thermometric hydrogel composition comprising at least one dissolved PQ and at least one ion source onto the at least one remaining space;
- d. drying the composition to a gel state to form the at least one PQ based ionic hydrogel, such that at least a portion of the first electrodes is in electrical communication with the at least one PQ based ionic hydrogel;
- e. attaching an insulating layer onto the first FPCB.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.