Nanowerk May 16, 2022
Researchers in Austria proposed a simplified design with biocompatible materials for an efficient electronic skin. They demonstrated that it can deliver multi-stimuli sensitivity with high spatial resolution. While the piezoelectricity of ZnO provided sensitivity to external force, the thermoresponsiveness of the hydrogel core provided sensitivity to surrounding temperature and humidity changes. The hydrogel core exerted mechanical stress onto the ZnO shell, which was translated to a measurable piezoelectric signal. A localized force sensitivity was achieved with very low cross talk. They demonstrated the sensor’s sensitivity to humidity was above and below the hydrogel’s lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The largest response to temperature was obtained at high humidity and below the hydrogel’s LCST. The sensor response to force, humidity, and temperature was significantly faster than the system’s intrinsic or excitation-induced time scale. According to the researchers the sensor response to touch and breath demonstrated its applicability as e-skin in real-life environment…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Schematics of six TE fields … Credit: