Flexible, Highly Sensitive, and Ultrafast Responsive Pressure Sensor with Stochastic Microstructures for Human Health Monitoring. Issue 2 (27th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xinyu; Chen, Fei; Han, Lewei; Zhang, Gang; Hu, Yougen; Jiang, Wenlong; Zhu, Pengli; Sun, Rong; Wong, Ching-Ping
• Is Part Of: Advanced engineering materials. Volume 23:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-10-27
• Subjects: abrasive paper -- flexible pressure sensor -- human health monitoring -- stochastic microstructures -- thermoplastic polyurethane; Materials -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adem.202000902
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1438-1656

Abstract

Abstract : Flexible and wearable sensors are now becoming the favorite of the new information age for their great prospects, especially in human health monitoring, and which are mainly aimed at improving the comprehensive sensing performance. However, the equilibrium between sensitivity and response time of the sensor has not been well balanced. Herein, a simple and low‐cost strategy to fabricate flexible pressure sensors based on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) substrate with unique surface stochastic morphology replicated from the abrasive paper, which is inspired by skin epidermis, is presented. The integrated TPU flexible pressure sensor exhibits a high sensitivity of −2.24 kPa −1 in a linear pressure regime of 0–200 Pa, and the effective working range of this sensor is close to 2 kPa, ultrafast response time and relaxation time of 10 ms, low detection limits of 0.72 Pa, and excellent cycling stability over 3000 cycles. The fabricated sensors demonstrate outstanding sensing capabilities in monitoring human physiological signals, such as subtle pulse, wrist movement, and speech recognition, making promising potential in practical human health monitoring applications. Abstract : A thermoplastic polyurethane‐based flexible pressure sensor with surface microstructures fabricated via a simple two‐step replication process exhibits ultrafast response speed, excellent cyclic stability, and promising potential in human health monitoring due to the unique microstructures and high elastic modulus.