Biocompatible and Sustainable Optical Strain Sensors for Large-Area Applications

By a simple two-step procedure, large photonic strain sensors using a biocompatible cellulose derivative are fabricated. Transient color shifts of the sensors are explained by a theoretical model that consideres the deformation of cholesteric domains, which is in agreement with the experimental results. The extremely simple fabrication method is suitable for both miniaturization and large-sale manufacture, taking advantage of inexpensive and sustainable materials.Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (David Phillips fellowship (Grant ID: BB/K014617/1)), The Isaac Newton Trust Cambridge (Grant ID: 76933), European Research Council (Grant ID: ERC-2014-STG H2020 639088