Cost-effective and broad-range flexible pressure sensors are highly desirable for use in wearable electronic devices for a wide range of sensitive measurements, from pulse to dynamic human motion. Herein, we present a high-performance flexible pressure sensor based on carbon nanotube-coated elastomer micropillar arrays (EMPAs). The EMPAs are prepared using a facile magnetic-field-induced self-assembly technique, which provides a simple and low-cost strategy to fabricate microstructured elastomers for constructing high-performance pressure sensors. Since high-ratio microstructured elastomers are employed as the sensing materials, our pressure sensors show a superior pressure-sensing performance, with a high sensitivity of 0.497 kPa−1 in the low-pressure regime of <100 Pa, a broad sensing range from a few pascals up to 80 kPa, and a fast response time of <0.2 s. Finally, we demonstrate that the sensor can be used to not only detect human arthrosis movements, but also to monitor subtle human physiological activities.

Copolymers of polyvinylidene fluoride and trifluorethylene [P(VDF‐TrFE)] have potential applications in wearable and implantable electromechanical devices since they are mechanically flexible, and biocompatible. A tailored electric cyclic process is employed to enhance both electrical and mechanical properties in P(VDF‐TrFE) 65/35 mol % copolymer films. The films are subjected to lower and higher field magnitude electric cycling successively. For electrical properties, enhancement in remnant polarization, dielectric and piezoelectric constants occurs. From mechanical point of view, strengthening in the fracture strength happens. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction techniques examine changes of the orientation of the molecular chains, grain size, and crystallinity after electric cycling for the copolymer films. Scanning electron microscopy reveals evolutions of the microstructure, including rod‐like textures and fractography of the films. The results indicate that electric cycling causes the molecular chains to orient gradually along the direction perpendicular to the applied electric field. Consequently, an enhancement of 12.2% and 45% is realized for the remnant polarization and fracture strength, respectively for P(VDF‐TrFE) 65/35 copolymer film. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45926.