Ultrathin epidermal strain sensor based on an elastomer nanosheet with an inkjet-printed conductive polymer. (19th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tetsu, Yuma; Yamagishi, Kento; Kato, Akira; Matsumoto, Yuya; Tsukune, Mariko; Kobayashi, Yo; Fujie, Masakatsu G.; Takeoka, Shinji; Fujie, Toshinori
• Is Part Of: Applied physics express. Volume 10:Number 8(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-07-19
• Subjects: Physics -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals; 621.05
• DOI: 10.7567/APEX.10.087201
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1882-0778

Abstract

Abstract: To minimize the interference that skin-contact strain sensors cause natural skin deformation, physical conformability to the epidermal structure is critical. Here, we developed an ultrathin strain sensor made from poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) inkjet-printed on a polystyrene–polybutadiene–polystyrene (SBS) nanosheet. The sensor, whose total thickness and gauge factor were ∼1 µm and 0.73 ± 0.10, respectively, deeply conformed to the epidermal structure and successfully detected the small skin strain (∼2%) while interfering minimally with the natural deformation of the skin. Such an epidermal strain sensor will open a new avenue for precisely detecting the motion of human skin and artificial soft-robotic skin.