3D Printed Electronic Skin for Strain, Pressure and Temperature Sensing

3D Printed Electronic Skin for Strain, Pressure and Temperature Sensing

2024 | Shounak Roy, Kaivalya A. Deo, Hung Pang Lee, John Soukar, Myeong Namkoong, Limei Tian, Amit Jaiswal, and Akhilesh K. Gaharwar
A 3D-printed electronic skin (E-skin) with strain, pressure, and temperature sensing capabilities has been developed using a novel class of nanoengineered hydrogels. This E-skin mimics the flexibility and stretchability of human skin while integrating biosensing abilities. The hydrogel is composed of thiolated pullulan (Pul-SH), molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanoassemblies, and polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles, crosslinked through a triple-crosslinking strategy involving defect-driven gelation, Michael addition, and ionic crosslinking. This approach enables the hydrogel to exhibit excellent flexibility, stretchability, adhesion, moldability, and electrical conductivity. The hydrogel's unique properties allow it to detect dynamic changes in strain, pressure, and temperature with high sensitivity and accuracy. The 3D-printability of the hydrogel enables the fabrication of complex structures for various applications, including wearable devices, flexible touchpads, and thermometers. The E-skin demonstrates exceptional performance in sensing human motions, phonatory vibrations, and body temperature. It is also capable of detecting pressure changes, including gentle and hard finger presses, and can be used as a flexible thermometer for real-time body temperature monitoring. The hydrogel's ability to conform to various surfaces and its high sensitivity make it a promising candidate for future applications in robotics, healthcare, and wearable technology. The study highlights the potential of this 3D-printed electronic skin as a versatile and adaptable sensing platform for a wide range of applications.A 3D-printed electronic skin (E-skin) with strain, pressure, and temperature sensing capabilities has been developed using a novel class of nanoengineered hydrogels. This E-skin mimics the flexibility and stretchability of human skin while integrating biosensing abilities. The hydrogel is composed of thiolated pullulan (Pul-SH), molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanoassemblies, and polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles, crosslinked through a triple-crosslinking strategy involving defect-driven gelation, Michael addition, and ionic crosslinking. This approach enables the hydrogel to exhibit excellent flexibility, stretchability, adhesion, moldability, and electrical conductivity. The hydrogel's unique properties allow it to detect dynamic changes in strain, pressure, and temperature with high sensitivity and accuracy. The 3D-printability of the hydrogel enables the fabrication of complex structures for various applications, including wearable devices, flexible touchpads, and thermometers. The E-skin demonstrates exceptional performance in sensing human motions, phonatory vibrations, and body temperature. It is also capable of detecting pressure changes, including gentle and hard finger presses, and can be used as a flexible thermometer for real-time body temperature monitoring. The hydrogel's ability to conform to various surfaces and its high sensitivity make it a promising candidate for future applications in robotics, healthcare, and wearable technology. The study highlights the potential of this 3D-printed electronic skin as a versatile and adaptable sensing platform for a wide range of applications.
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