Multistimuli Responsive Sensors at High Resolution

Embedding sensors in smart architectures that record the response from the environment and transform it in a measurable signal is the objective of artificial skins. In this talk, an artificial skin based on a hybrid multi-stimuli responsive material, combining force, temperature and humidity sensing will be presented. The new sensor concept is realized by combining a hydrogel and a piezoelectric material in an array of core-shell structures. This architecture is achieved thanks to the use of vapor-based technologies for material processing, i.e. initiated chemical vapor deposition, atomic layer deposition and nanoimprint lithography. We demonstrate that the skin can detect the stimuli with lateral resolution below the one of human skin. Possible applications stem from robotics to smart prostheses.<br/><br/>1. T. Abu Ali, P. Schäffner, M. Belegratis, G. Schider, B. Stadlober, A. M. Coclite, (2022) Smart Core-Shell Nanostructures for Force, Humidity and Temperature Multi-Stimuli Responsiveness, <i>Adv. Mater. Technol.</i>, DOI: 10.1002/admt.202200246.