Fabric-infused array of reduced graphene oxide sensors for mapping of skin temperatures

We report a textile-infused sensor array, utilizing reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as a uniquely conformal negative temperature coefficient (NTC) material, for spatiotemporal mapping of skin temperatures. Nylon filaments were coated with rGO and stitched along with Ag conductive threads into a polyester fabric to create the array of individually addressable 6 × 6 NTC sensing elements. The temperature-mapping attribute of the sensor array was evaluated in comparison to infrared imaging. The rGO film remained mechanically and electrically stable upon stretching (<4% strain) and bending (<34°) of the filaments, demonstrating its conformal nature. These results suggest the intriguing possibility of thermally mapping topographically complex skin surfaces in a non-invasive, wearable, and cost effective manner.