Flexible tactile sensor based on patterned ag-nanofiber electrodes through electrospinning

• Main Authors: Chen, Mengxiao, Wang, Zhe, Zheng, Yu, Zhang, Qichong, He, Bing, Yang, Jiao, Qi, Miao, Wei, Lei
• Other Authors: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering; Electrospinning; Ag Nanofibers
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/153923
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The growing demand for intelligent equipment has greatly inspired the development of flexible devices. Thus, disparate flexible multifunctional devices, including pressure sensitive flexible/stretchable displays, have drawn worldwide research attention. Electrodes maintaining conductivity and mechanical strength against deformations are indispensable components in all prospective applications. In this work, a flexible pressure mapping sensor array is developed based on patterned Ag-nanofibers (Ag-NFs) electrode through electrospinning and lithography. The metallic Ag layer is sputtered onto the electrospinning polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) NFs. A uniform and super conductive electrode layer with outstanding mechanical performance is thus formed after dissolving PVA. Followed by the traditional lithography method, a patterned electrode array (4 × 4 sensors) is obtained. Based on the newly developed triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology, a flexible pressure-mapping sensor with excellent stability towards bending deformations is further demonstrated. Moreover, a letter "Z" is successfully visualized by this pressure sensor array, encouraging more human-machine interactive implementations, such as multi-functional tactile screens.