Cicada-Wing-Inspired Highly Sensitive Tactile Sensors Based on Elastic Carbon Foam with Nanotextured Surfaces

Abstract

Electronic devices with tactile and pressure-sensing capabilities are becoming increasingly popular in the automatic industry, human motion/health monitoring, and artificial intelligence applications. Inspired by the natural nanotopography of the cicada wing, we propose here a straightforward strategy to fabricate a highly sensitive tactile sensor through nanotexturing of erected polyaniline (PANI) nanoneedles on a conductive and elastic three-dimensional (3D) carbon skeleton. The robust and compressible carbon networks offer a resilient and conducting matrix to catering complex scenarios; the biomimetic PANI nanoneedles firmly and densely anchored on a 3D carbon skeleton provide intimate electrical contact under subtle deformation. As a result, a piezoresistive tactile sensor with ultrahigh sensitivity (33.52 kPa–1), fast response/recovery abilities (97/111 ms), and reproducible sensing performance (2500 cycles) is developed, which is capable of distinguishing motions in a wide pressure range from 4.66 Pa to 60 kPa, detecting spatial pressure distribution, and monitoring various gestures in a wireless manner. These excellent performances demonstrate the great potential of nature-inspired tactile sensors for practical human motion monitoring and artificial intelligence applications.

Hierarchically Structured MXene Nanosheets on Carbon Sponges with a Synergistic Effect of Electrostatic Adsorption and Capillary Action for Highly Sensitive Pressure Sensors

“…Flexible sensors, − on the other hand, have garnered significant attention due to their small size, high sensitivity, and comfortable wearability. Electronic skin (e-skin) emulates the tactile functionalities of human skin, − allowing for multiple sensing capabilities such as strain, , vibration, pressure, and temperature. As a result, this technology holds vast potential in applications such as smart robotics, prosthetics, human–machine interfaces, − and wearable medical systems. , The ideal electronic skin should possess multifunctional sensing capabilities, which means that it should be able to detect different types of stimuli simultaneously.…”

Anti‐Freezing Wearable Tactile Sensors Prepared by Laser Processing of Crumpled Xanthan Gum‐Based Hydrogels

“…[ 13–14 ] Among these, piezoresistive tactile sensors have widely been studied owing to their straightforward design, cost‐effectiveness, and simple operation. [ 3,4,15 ]…”

“…[13][14] Among these, piezoresistive tactile sensors have widely been studied owing to their straightforward design, costeffectiveness, and simple operation. [3,4,15] However, despite the significant progress made in the development of wearable piezoresistive tactile sensors, some critical issues still require solutions. For example, piezoresistive materials are limited in terms of safety and biocompatibility in medical settings, and availability under harsh conditions.…”

“…Tactile perception is of paramount importance to achieve environmental awareness and human-machine interactions in DOI: 10.1002/admt.202301196 sophisticated applications of smart wearables and intelligent robots. [1,2] Inspired by human skin, various wearable tactile sensors have been proposed over the past decade for precise and rapid sensing based on different mechanisms, including piezoresistive, [3][4][5][6][7][8] capacitive, [9,10] optical, [11] magnetic, [12] and triboelectric mechanisms. [13][14] Among these, piezoresistive tactile sensors have widely been studied owing to their straightforward design, costeffectiveness, and simple operation.…”