Self-powered hybrid triboelectric–piezoelectric electronic skin based on P(VDF-TrFE) electrospun nanofibers for artificial sensory system

Abstract

Piezoelectric sensors have been developed due to the self-powered sensing and flexibility and the promising potential applications in the electronic skin (e-skin) inspired by human skin. However, although the piezoelectric sensors have an excellent performance in detecting human movements, it is difficult to distinguish external mechanical stimuli such as tapping in a single structure, together. Here, we suggest a self-powered e-skin based on electrospun poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene), P(VDF-TrFE), nanofiber hybrid triboelectric-piezoelectric sensor (E-HTPS), that can identify between human motions and external touch based on both triboelectric effect and piezoelectric effect. Triboelectric effect-based sensors have a good electrical output characteristic with various advantages of high-flexibility and simple working operation. Hence, the E-HTPS consists of two layers, triboelectric layer as a tactile sensor and piezoelectric layer as a human motion sensor. Therefore, we demonstrate that the E-HTPS can detect human movements and even finger touch with attached to the target body part. Consequently, the E-HTPS could provide an effective approach to designing the self-powered e-skin as an artificial sensory system for healthcare monitoring and soft robotics.

Advancements in Bio-inspired Self-Powered Wireless Sensors: Materials, Mechanisms, and Biomedical Applications

“…Due to the high sensing performance, the described sensor was utilized to monitor weak carotid artery pulse pressure as well as multimodal finger touch (Figure 13A). In other research, Cho et al 357 developed a P(VDF-TrFE) electrospun nanofiberderived e-skin for discrimination between human motions and external touch based on the piezoelectric and triboelectric effects. This multimodal sensor showed a good ability to detect human movements and even finger touch.…”

Recent Advances in Self-Powered Tactile Sensing for Wearable Electronics

“…Self-powered tactile sensors are portable and sustainable, and can convert different movements into electrical signals of different modes or sequences. They are widely used in motion monitoring [ 91 , 92 , 93 ].…”

Electrospun Nanofiber-Based Bioinspired Artificial Skins for Healthcare Monitoring and Human-Machine Interaction

“…In recent years, various artificial skins have been reported successively and have played an important role in healthcare [ 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 ], HMI, and other fields [ 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 , 133 ]. Compared with other traditional electronic sensors, artificial electronic skin can meet the demand of human health monitoring and HMI when it is used in seamless and stable contact with human skin and obtains low impedance physiological signals [ 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 ]. Therefore, it has higher requirements on material permeability, tensile resistance, and biocompatibility [ 139 ].…”