Stretchable Temperature-Responsive Multimodal Neuromorphic Electronic Skin with Spontaneous Synaptic Plasticity Recovery

Abstract

Multimodal electronic skin devices capable of detecting multimodal signals provide the possibility for health monitoring. Sensing and memory for temperature and deformation by human skin are of great significance for the perception and monitoring of physiological changes of the human body. Electronic skin is highly expected to have similar functions as human skin. Here, by implementing intrinsically stretchable neuromorphic transistors with mechanoreceptors and thermoreceptors in an array, we have realized stretchable temperature-responsive multimodal neuromorphic electronic skin (STRM-NES) with both sensory and memory functions, in which synaptic plasticity can be modulated by multiple modalities, in situ temperature variations, and stretching deformations. Temperature-responsive functions, spontaneous recovery, and temperature-dependent multitrial learning are proposed. Furthermore, a stretchable temperature neuromorphic array composed of multiple fully functional subcells is demonstrated to identify temperature distributions and variations at different regions and conditions after various strains of skin. The STRM-NES has temperature- and strain-responsive neuromorphic functions, excellent self-healing, and reusable capability, showing similar abilities as human skin to sense, transmit, memory, and recovery from external stimuli. It is expected to facilitate the development of wearable electronics, intelligent robotics, and prosthetic applications.

Stretchable Electrochemical Sensors: From Electrode Fabrication to Cell Mechanotransduction Monitoring†

“…[ 97‐99 ] Besides, the substrates integrated with thermoreceptors could impart temperature‐responsive property to stretchable electrode. [ 100 ]…”

In-Memory Tactile Sensor with Tunable Steep-Slope Region for Low-Artifact and Real-Time Perception of Mechanical Signals

“…Unfortunately, conventional sensors without information-storage capability can only detect and transmit single-value messages. − The subsequent data integration and deserialization tasks are often completed by additional signal-processing units such as computers, resulting in energy-costly computational overheads and impeding long-term implementation of point-of-care diagnosis and real-time data communication. To fulfill the accurate perception of complex information, the synaptic devices have emerged as a promising candidate as it possesses neuromorphic functions, mimicking the process of signal transmission and analysis in biological neuron networks, − and enabling continuous modulating of conductance states. − To date, mechanical perception is realized by either connecting the external pressure sensor with a synaptic transistor , or incorporating a mechanical-responsive gate into the transistor. , These approaches are invariably based on the voltage division principle that transduces force into a variation of effective gate voltage (summarized in Table S1). In terms of the mechanisms, they require external power to maintain a proper transconductance for the synaptic transistor, resulting in high power consumption.…”

Artificial Tactile Recognition Enabled by Flexible Low-Voltage Organic Transistors and Low-Power Synaptic Electronics

“…Therefore, the development of lowvoltage and low-power brain-like hardware system is expected to break the von Neumann bottleneck. On the other hand, flexible organic field-effect transistor technology has been intensely investigated for smart artificial intelligence, 7,8 flexible sensors, 9,10 and flexible integrated circuits. 11,12 Therefore, development of flexible, low voltage, and low energy consumption brain-like computing systems driven by a tactile signal is a way to overcome the scaling and heating effect limited by ULSI.…”

“…Therefore, the development of low-voltage and low-power brain-like hardware system is expected to break the von Neumann bottleneck. On the other hand, flexible organic field-effect transistor technology has been intensely investigated for smart artificial intelligence, , flexible sensors, , and flexible integrated circuits. , Therefore, development of flexible, low voltage, and low energy consumption brain-like computing systems driven by a tactile signal is a way to overcome the scaling and heating effect limited by ULSI. − However, most artificial intelligence synapses built with organic semiconductor (including polymer and small molecule) field effect transistors (OFETs) suffer from poor injection of the carrier and relatively high-power consumption (from nJ to pJ), − severely limiting the development and application of brain-like computing systems.…”