Structure-property correlation in artificial skins

Chuan Fei Guo^*

^* Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd, Shenzhen 518055, China (guocf@sustech.edu.cn)

Abstract

Flexible pressure sensors or electronic skins can respond to applied pressure. However, there are many issues to be considered for the applications of such devices. One key issue is that sensors with high sensitivity or pressure-resolution often have a narrow working range and poor signal linearity; other key issues include the contradiction between high sensing performances and poor mechanical stability, and substantial signal drift. In this talk, I will introduce a series of work by engineering microstructures or materials that can boost the sensitivity, pressure resolution and linearity, while broadening the pressure responding range. In addition, I will also introduce sensors that have tough interlayer interfaces to achieve high robustness under complicated mechanical modes, as well as sensors with almost zero-signal drift under ultra-high pressure. I will show that robots with such e-skins can precisely detect pressure distribution during manipulation tasks without any interfacial failure. 

References

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