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Zhang Z, Liu G, Li Z, Zhang W, Meng Q. Flexible tactile sensors with biomimetic microstructures: Mechanisms, fabrication, and applications. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 320:102988. [PMID: 37690330 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2023.102988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, flexible devices have gained rapid development with great potential in daily life. As the core component of wearable devices, flexible tactile sensors are prized for their excellent properties such as lightweight, stretchable and foldable. Consequently, numerous high-performance sensors have been developed, along with an array of innovative fabrication processes. It has been recognized that the improvement of the single performance index for flexible tactile sensors is not enough for practical sensing applications. Therefore, balancing and optimization of overall performance of the sensor are extensively anticipated. Furthermore, new functional characteristics are required for practical applications, such as freeze resistance, corrosion resistance, self-cleaning, and degradability. From a bionic perspective, the overall performance of a sensor can be optimized by constructing bionic microstructures which can deliver additional functional features. This review briefly summarizes the latest developments in bionic microstructures for different types of tactile sensors and critically analyzes the sensing performance of fabricated flexible tactile sensors. Based on this, the application prospects of bionic microstructure-based tactile sensors in human detection and human-machine interaction devices are introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoqing Zhang
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Functional Printing and Transport Packaging of China National Light Industry, Key Laboratory of Paper-based Functional Materials of China National Light Industry, Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Papermaking Technology and Specialty Paper Development, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China
| | - Guodong Liu
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Functional Printing and Transport Packaging of China National Light Industry, Key Laboratory of Paper-based Functional Materials of China National Light Industry, Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Papermaking Technology and Specialty Paper Development, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhijian Li
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Functional Printing and Transport Packaging of China National Light Industry, Key Laboratory of Paper-based Functional Materials of China National Light Industry, Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Papermaking Technology and Specialty Paper Development, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenliang Zhang
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Functional Printing and Transport Packaging of China National Light Industry, Key Laboratory of Paper-based Functional Materials of China National Light Industry, Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Papermaking Technology and Specialty Paper Development, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingjun Meng
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Functional Printing and Transport Packaging of China National Light Industry, Key Laboratory of Paper-based Functional Materials of China National Light Industry, Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Papermaking Technology and Specialty Paper Development, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, People's Republic of China
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Smocot S, Zhang Z, Zhang L, Guo S, Cao C. Printed flexible mechanical sensors. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:17134-17156. [PMID: 36385388 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr04015h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Flexible mechanical sensors (e.g., strain, pressure, and force) fabricated primarily by printing technologies have emerged and evolved promptly in the past several years. 2D and 3D printing approaches enabled rapid prototyping of various flexible mechanical sensors that have demonstrated their unique applications in fields including robotics, human-machine interfaces, and biomedicine. Research efforts have primarily been focused on experimenting with different materials, device configurations, and sensing mechanisms to achieve better sensing performance. While great progress has been made, this field is still in its infancy where most research is exploratory; and even the performance standards and long-term objective/vision of these sensors are not clear. In this review, the state-of-the-art of three types of printed flexible mechanical sensors will be discussed and analyzed in terms of their fabrication methods, types of sensing materials and mechanisms, and challenges for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Smocot
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Zixin Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Lingzhi Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Shu Guo
- School of Vehicle and Energy, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China.
| | - Changhong Cao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Nag A, Afsarimanesh N, Nuthalapati S, Altinsoy ME. Novel Surfactant-Induced MWCNTs/PDMS-Based Nanocomposites for Tactile Sensing Applications. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15134504. [PMID: 35806631 PMCID: PMC9267166 DOI: 10.3390/ma15134504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The paper presents the use of surfactant-induced MWCNTs/PDMS-based nanocomposites for tactile sensing applications. The significance of nanocomposites-based sensors has constantly been growing due to their enhanced electromechanical characteristics. As a result of the simplified customization for their target applications, research is ongoing to determine the quality and quantity of the precursor materials that are involved in the fabrication of nanocomposites. Although a significant amount of work has been done to develop a wide range of nanocomposite-based prototypes, they still require optimization when mixed with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrices. Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) are one of the pioneering materials used in multifunctional sensing applications due to their high yield, excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical properties, and high structural integrity. Among the other carbon allotropes used to form nanocomposites, MWCNTs have been widely studied due to their enhanced bonding with the polymer matrix, highly densified sampling, and even surfacing throughout the composites. This paper highlights the development, characterization and implementation of surfactant-added MWCNTs/PDMS-based nanocomposites. The prototypes consisted of an optimized amount of sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) and MWCNTs mixed as nanofillers in the PDMS matrix. The results have been promising in terms of their mechanical behaviour as they responded well to a maximum strain of 40%. Stable and repeatable output was obtained with a response time of 1 millisecond. The Young’s Modulus of the sensors was 2.06 MPa. The utilization of the prototypes for low-pressure tactile sensing applications is also shown here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anindya Nag
- Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany; (S.N.); (M.E.A.)
- Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI), Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Nasrin Afsarimanesh
- School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia;
| | - Suresh Nuthalapati
- Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany; (S.N.); (M.E.A.)
- Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI), Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Mehmet Ercan Altinsoy
- Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany; (S.N.); (M.E.A.)
- Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI), Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
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