Lab Electrospinning System| Recent Progress of Electrospun Nanofiber-Based Composite Materials for MonitoringPhysical, Physiological, and Body FluidSignals

Flexible electronic skin (E-skin) sensors provide innovative solutions for detecting human signals, enabling human-machine interaction, and advancing smart robotics technology. Electrospun nanofibers exhibit excellent mechanical properties, lightweight, and tunable breathability, making them particularly suitable for E-skin applications. Nanofiber-based composites, as three-dimensional structural materials, integrate one-dimensional polymer nanofibers with other functional materials to achieve efficient signal transduction, serving as an ideal platform for next-generation smart electronics.

Recently, a team led by Cheng Si from Soochow University, in collaboration with Professor Lai Yuekun from Fuzhou University and Professor Zhu Tianxue from Anhui Agricultural University, published a review titled "Recent Progress of Electrospun Nanofiber-based Composite Materials for Monitoring Physical, Physiological Signals and Body Fluid Signals" in Nano-Micro Letters, systematically summarizing advancements in electrospun nanofiber composites. Co-first authors are Guo Fang (Ph.D. candidate) and Ren Zheng (master’s student) from Soochow University.

Highlights:

1. The review introduces electrospinning techniques, including far-field, near-field, and melt electrospinning.

2. It discusses diverse nanofiber morphologies (e.g., core-shell, porous, hollow, beaded, Janus, ribbon) and strategies to enhance performance via functional materials.

3. Detailed coverage of composite materials: nanofiber/hydrogel, nanofiber/aerogel, and nanofiber/metal.

4. Focus on recent progress in monitoring physical, physiological, and body fluid signals.

5. Exploration of multimodal sensors responsive to stimuli, innovative signal-decoupling strategies, challenges, and future prospects to advance flexible electronics and health monitoring.

Fig. 1 Graphical abstract

As the most common E-skin sensor form, hydrogels mimic human tissues with high water content and tunable mechanics. Combining hydrogels with nanofibers improves stability, recoverability, and durability, while the composite’s mechanical and topological properties enhance sensing applications (Fig. 2).

Methods to prepare nanofiber/hydrogel composites:
(1) Spin-coating/dripping hydrogel onto nanofiber membranes;
(2) Homogenizing nanofiber membranes into hydrogel solutions for curing;
(3) In-situ gelation on nanofiber surfaces;
(4) One-step fabrication via dual-nozzle electrospinning.

Fig. 2 Nanofiber/hydrogel composites

Nanofibers reinforce aerogel structures (Fig. 3). Current 3D nanofiber/aerogel methods include:
(1) Freeze-drying fragmented nanofibers;
(2) Direct electrospinning under controlled conditions.

Fig. 3 Nanofiber/aerogel composites

Integrating metals enables precise patterning and embedding, enhancing compatibility with flexible electronics for multifunctional devices resilient in challenging environments (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4 Nanofiber/metal composites

The review highlights progress in monitoring multi-signal detection (Figs. 5–7) and multimodal sensors, emphasizing signal-decoupling innovations. Challenges and future directions are outlined.

Fig. 5 Physical signal sensing

Fig. 6 Physiological signal sensing

Fig. 7 Body fluid signal sensing

Key challenges for nanofiber-based sensors:
(1) Material diversity and interfacial compatibility;
(2) Multifunctional integration and signal interference;
(3) Mechanical stability and hysteresis;
(4) Biocompatibility;
(5) Recycling and sustainability;
(6) Integration and technological innovation (Fig. 8).

Fig. 8 Key challenges

Citation:
Guo, F., Ren, Z., Wang, S. et al. Nano-Micro Lett. 17, 302 (2025).
DOI: 10.1007/s40820-025-01804-2