A robust stretchable pressure sensor for electronic skins

• Published in: Organic electronics Vol. 86; p. 105926
• Main Authors: Wang, Guangshun, Wang, Zhongbao, Wu, Yigen, Luo, Yihui, Tan, Qiulin, Zhao, Libo, Zhao, Yang, Sun, Daoheng, Wu, Dezhi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2020
• Subjects: Electronic skin; Interferential suppression; Multi-modal interference; Robust; Stretchable pressure sensor; Interferential suppression; Electronic skin; Robust; Multi-modal interference; Stretchable pressure sensor
• ISSN: 1566-1199; 1878-5530
• DOI: 10.1016/j.orgel.2020.105926

As an essential role in electronic skins, flexible pressure sensors have attracted wide attention for their applications in human-machine interaction and intelligent prosthetic, etc. Whereas, in general, it is difficult for most flexible pressure sensors to acquire high accuracy, especially under multi-modal interference (temperature, humidity and deformation). Herein, a novel stretchable flexible pressure sensor was presented by direct writing, which was capable of weakening the strain effect, fending off humidity interference and restraining thermal influence by using a double layer raised island structure substrate, a covering layer and a Wheatstone bridge-configuration of the sensing element. The sensor kept robust under multi-modal interference of strain about 0–20%, temperature of 30–80 °C and humidity in 20–90%, owning high and stable sensitivity of 2.6 kPa−1–14.05 kPa−1 under 0–74 kPa. Two demonstrations of grabbing a bottle with different temperatures and a kid's catching behavior on a opisthenar of a carer verified that such sensor possessed a great potential in many non-structured applications and will be a promising candidate for stretchable flexible pressure sensors in future. [Display omitted] •A robust pressure sensor which can restrain the interference of deformation, temperature and humidity was presented.•A double layer raised island structure substrate was used to weaken the strain effect.•A Wheatstone bridge configuration of four same sensing elements was elaborated to eliminate the thermal impact.•Two applications including grabbing a bottle and a kid's catching behavior have been demonstrated.