Spider Web-like Flexible Tactile Sensor for Pressure-Strain Simultaneous Detection

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2021 Mar 3;13(8):10428-10436. doi: 10.1021/acsami.0c21960. Epub 2021 Feb 16.

Abstract

Multiparameter integrated sensors are required for the next generation of flexible wearable electronics. However, mutual interference between detected signals is a technical bottleneck for a flexible tactile sensor to realize pressure-strain monitoring simultaneously and sensitively. Herein, a flexible dual-parameter pressure-strain sensor based on the three-dimensional (3D) tubular graphene sponge (TGS) and spider web-like stretchable electrodes is designed and fabricated. As the pressure-sensitive module, the unique 3D-TGS with an uninterrupted network of tubular graphene and high graphitic degree demonstrates great robust compressibility, supporting compression to ∼20% without shape collapse. The spider web-like stretchable electrodes as the strain-sensitive module are fabricated by a spray-embedded process based on the hierarchical multiscale hybrid nanocomposite of Ag nanowires (NWs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with an optimal mass ratio. By comparing the output signals of spider web-like flexible electrodes, the magnitude and direction of the applied force can be effectively monitored simultaneously. Moreover, the potential applications of the flexible dual-parameter pressure-strain device in human-machine interaction are also explored, showing great promise in artificial intelligence and wearable systems.

Keywords: 3D tubular graphene sponge; dual-parameter sensor; human-machine interaction; hybrid stretchable electrode; simultaneous detection.

Publication types

  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Electrodes
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Nanowires / chemistry*
  • Pressure*
  • Silver / chemistry
  • Stress, Mechanical*
  • Wearable Electronic Devices*

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Silver
  • Graphite