Structure-Driven, Flexible, Multilayered, Paper-Based Pressure Sensor for Human–Machine Interfacing

Abstract

Flexible pressure sensors have gained considerable attention for their potential applications in wearable electronics and human−machine interfacing. However, two major bottlenecks in their widespread usage (i) achieving high sensitivity over a wide working pressure range and (ii) constituent material platform for manufacturability and environmental safety still limits its utility. Herein, we suggest a low-cost hierarchical construction strategy, which enhances the sensitivity of a paper-based piezoresistive pressure sensor over a wide working range. This strategy uses a special multilayered cellulose paper structure composed of alternate layers of plain and corrugated paper sheets, coated with 2D tin-monosulfide (SnS). This design of the paper pressure sensor allows it to achieve high sensitivity up to 14.8 kPa−1 and a broad working range of 0−120 kPa with good durability and repeatability. Further, to confirm practical applicability, we utilized an array of these multilayered flexible pressure sensors for monitoring human activity and developing a biodegradable and foldable keypad. The proposed paper-based green electronic platform can potentially be used in a variety of applications including healthcare and human−machine interfacing.

Synergistic control of engineered nanostructures toward sensitivity and reliability of a flexible piezoresistive pressure sensor

“…In contrast, the shAAO-pressure sensor exhibited high sensing stability without noticeable changes under the process of periodic pressure loading and unloading in cyclic operations for a long time, during which the detected Δ I / I 0 fluctuation value was maintained and reproduced almost as it originally was. While previously reported piezoresistive pressure sensors 43–45 exhibited an upward or downward moving baseline like the bhAAO pressure sensor, the shAAO pressure sensor showed superior reliability with a constant baseline without hysteresis.…”

Flat Silk Cocoon Pressure Sensor Based on a Sea Urchin-like Microstructure for Intelligent Sensing

“…From the cyclic durability test results in Figure f, it can be seen that the HMSFP–FSC pressure sensor can withstand more than 900 pressure loading/unloading cycles, showing good potential in long-term use. The HMSFP–FSC flexible pressure sensor proposed in this study exhibits good comprehensive performance in terms of sensitivity, response time, and detection range, compared with the reported flexible thin-film substrate pressure sensors − (Table ).…”

Recent progress in flexible pressure sensors based on multiple microstructures: from design to application

“…237 Sensors can serve as interfaces for the front-end of HCI systems to collect signals transmitted by human stimuli such as touch, sound, electromyographic activity, and nerve impulses, and then convert these signals into the required data inputs for the back-end. The applications of humanmachine interfaces mainly include smart keyboards, 6,238 touch screens, 211,239,240 intelligent robots, [241][242][243][244] and speech recognition systems. 245 For example, a highly sensitive paper-based piezoresistive PS was fabricated and a biodegradable and foldable keyboard was developed by Sakhuja et al (Fig.…”

“…11a). 6 When the finger is pressed at different locations on the keyboard, the sensing response generated corresponds to the location and magnitude of the applied pressure. This demonstration shows that a flexible paper-based keyboard can reliably respond to the magnitude and specific location of the applied pressure.…”

“…Depending on the sensing mechanism, PSs can be classified into four types: piezoresistive, 4–6 capacitive, 7–9 piezoelectric, 10–13 and triboelectric sensors. 14–17 In addition, the more studied sensors include organic transistor sensors, 18–21 ion sensors 22,23 and hybrid response pressure sensors.…”