Iontronic pressure sensor with high sensitivity and linear response over a wide pressure range based on soft micropillared electrodes

Lu，Peng1; Wang，Liu1; Zhu，Pang1; Huang，Jun1; Wang，Yueji1; Bai，Ningning1; Wang，Yan1; Li，Gang1; Yang，Junlong1; Xie，Kewei1; Zhang，Jianming2; Yu，Bo3; Dai，Yuan4; Guo，Chuan Fei1,5

2021

10.1016/j.scib.2021.02.019

Science Bulletin   影响因子和分区

2095-9273

2095-9281

Electronic skins and flexible pressure sensors are important devices for advanced healthcare and intelligent robotics. Sensitivity is a key parameter of flexible pressure sensors. Whereas introducing surface microstructures in a capacitive-type sensor can significantly improve its sensitivity, the signal becomes nonlinear and the pressure response range gets much narrower, significantly limiting the applications of flexible pressure sensors. Here, we designed a pressure sensor that utilizes a nanoscale iontronic interface of an ionic gel layer and a micropillared electrode, for highly linear capacitance-to-pressure response and high sensitivity over a wide pressure range. The micropillars undergo three stages of deformation upon loading: initial contact (0–6 kPa) and structure buckling (6–12 kPa) that exhibit a low and nonlinear response, as well as a post-buckling stage that has a high signal linearity with high sensitivity (33.16 kPa) over a broad pressure range of 12–176 kPa. The high linearity lies in the subtle balance between the structure compression and mechanical matching of the two materials at the gel-electrode interface. Our sensor has been applied in pulse detection, plantar pressure mapping, and grasp task of an artificial limb. This work provides a physical insight in achieving linear response through the design of appropriate microstructures and selection of materials with suitable modulus in flexible pressure sensors, which are potentially useful in intelligent robots and health monitoring.

Flexible pressure sensor Iontronic interface Linearity Mechanical matching

SCI ; EI

英语

第一 ; 通讯

WOS:000656697400009

20211110071475

Capacitive sensors ; Electrodes ; Intelligent robots ; Machine design ; Microstructure

Mechanical Design:601 ; Robot Applications:731.6 ; Control Devices:732 ; Pressure Measuring Instruments:944.3 ; Materials Science:951

2-s2.0-85102261008

Scopus

1.Department of Materials Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
2.Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
3.Ningbo Fengcheng Advanced Energy Materials Research Institute,Ningbo,315500,China
4.Tencent Robotics X,Shenzhen,518000,China
5.Centers for Mechanical Engineering Research and Education at MIT and SUSTech & Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for Novel Electronic Information Materials and Devices,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China

Lu，Peng,Wang，Liu,Zhu，Pang,et al. Iontronic pressure sensor with high sensitivity and linear response over a wide pressure range based on soft micropillared electrodes[J]. Science Bulletin,2021,66:1091-1100.

Lu，Peng.,Wang，Liu.,Zhu，Pang.,Huang，Jun.,Wang，Yueji.,...&Guo，Chuan Fei.(2021).Iontronic pressure sensor with high sensitivity and linear response over a wide pressure range based on soft micropillared electrodes.Science Bulletin,66,1091-1100.

Lu，Peng,et al."Iontronic pressure sensor with high sensitivity and linear response over a wide pressure range based on soft micropillared electrodes".Science Bulletin 66(2021):1091-1100.