3D Printed Stretchable Tactile Sensors

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 29; no. 27
• Main Authors: Guo, Shuang‐Zhuang, Qiu, Kaiyan, Meng, Fanben, Park, Sung Hyun, McAlpine, Michael C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.07.2017
• Subjects: 3-D printers; 3D printing; bionic skin; Bionics; Constrictions; Customization; Electronic devices; Electronics; Energy harvesting; Human-computer interaction; Man-machine interfaces; Materials science; Monitoring, Physiologic; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Prostheses; Sensors; Skin; stretchable electronics; tactile sensors; Tactile sensors (robotics); Three dimensional printing; wearable devices; Wearable technology; wearable devices; tactile sensors; bionic skin; 3D printing; stretchable electronics
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.201701218

The development of methods for the 3D printing of multifunctional devices could impact areas ranging from wearable electronics and energy harvesting devices to smart prosthetics and human–machine interfaces. Recently, the development of stretchable electronic devices has accelerated, concomitant with advances in functional materials and fabrication processes. In particular, novel strategies have been developed to enable the intimate biointegration of wearable electronic devices with human skin in ways that bypass the mechanical and thermal restrictions of traditional microfabrication technologies. Here, a multimaterial, multiscale, and multifunctional 3D printing approach is employed to fabricate 3D tactile sensors under ambient conditions conformally onto freeform surfaces. The customized sensor is demonstrated with the capabilities of detecting and differentiating human movements, including pulse monitoring and finger motions. The custom 3D printing of functional materials and devices opens new routes for the biointegration of various sensors in wearable electronics systems, and toward advanced bionic skin applications. A multifunctional three‐dimensional (3D) printing approach is employed to fabricate 3D tactile sensors under ambient conditions conformally onto freeform surfaces. The sensors can detect and differente human motions, including pulse monitoring and finger movements. This custom 3D printing of functional materials and devices opens new routes toward the biointegration of various sensors in wearable electronic systems.