High‐Performance Magnetic Sensorics for Printable and Flexible Electronics

High-performance giant magnetoresistive sensorics on flexible Si membranes

“…17,18 These flexible devices are already successfully integrated in fluidic systems, 19 applied as pointing devices and proximity sensorics 11,20 and act as components of printed electronics. 21,22 Integrated into smart skins, these magneto-sensory systems equip the recipient with a so called sixth sense able to perceive the presence of static or dynamic magnetic fields for orientation and manipulation aids. 20 The integration of flexible sensing elements with on-site signal conditioning electronics is challenging on polymeric substrates.…”

Shapeable magnetoelectronics

“…By thorough optimization of the polymeric binder, electrical percolation can be achieved between the GMR flakes (Figure 11(c)) and the sensors reveal up to 37% change in the electrical resistance in a magnetic field with a maximal sensitivity of 0.93 T À1 at 130 mT. 76 These figures are comparable to the performance of conventional GMR sensors prepared using advanced thin film fabrication and patterning technologies. Furthermore, being printed at pre-defined locations on flexible circuitry the sensors remain fully operational over a temperature range from À10 C up to þ95 C, well beyond the requirements for consumer electronics ( Figure 12).…”

“…Despite the manifold functionalities that are available for shapeable electronic systems, magnetic functionality ( Figure 1) was added to the family of flexible, [67][68][69][70][71][72][73] printable, [74][75][76] stretchable, 43,77,78 and even imperceptible 79 electronics very recently.…”

“…Being synergetically combined with either inkjet, screen, or dispenser printing approaches, flexible electronics has witnessed fascinating innovations in several application areas, including but not limited to displays, 134 organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), 135 various types of sensors, 74,76,[136][137][138][139] radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, 140,141 and organic solar cells. 142 To complete the family, there are strong activities towards the fabrication of flexible magnetic field sensorics envisioning active intelligent packaging, post cards, books, or promotional materials that communicate with the environment when externally triggered by a magnetic field.…”

“…142 To complete the family, there are strong activities towards the fabrication of flexible magnetic field sensorics envisioning active intelligent packaging, post cards, books, or promotional materials that communicate with the environment when externally triggered by a magnetic field. 43,[74][75][76]79 The fabrication of printable magnetoelectronics is challenging, mainly due to the lack of suitable sensing compounds at ambient conditions. Indeed, in order to be in line with the concept of printable electronics, the magnetic ink should satisfy the following basic requirements: low-cost, high-volume production on large areas of standard printing materials, disposability, and processability.…”