Programmable high-sensitivity iontronic pressure sensors support broad human-interactive perception and identification

Abstract Flexible pressure sensors are essential for human–machine interfaces and wearable devices, requiring accurate detection of diverse motion signals. However, challenges arise from material compressibility and mechanical limitations, hindering the development of sensors with both high sensitiv...

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Main Authors: Yue Huang, Shaoxiong Hu, Ying Li, Rui Wang, Yuchen Yang, Wei Zhu, Yuan Deng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Flexible Electronics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00420-9
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author Yue Huang
Shaoxiong Hu
Ying Li
Rui Wang
Yuchen Yang
Wei Zhu
Yuan Deng
author_facet Yue Huang
Shaoxiong Hu
Ying Li
Rui Wang
Yuchen Yang
Wei Zhu
Yuan Deng
author_sort Yue Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Flexible pressure sensors are essential for human–machine interfaces and wearable devices, requiring accurate detection of diverse motion signals. However, challenges arise from material compressibility and mechanical limitations, hindering the development of sensors with both high sensitivity and wide sensing ranges, as well as the demand-driven designability. Here, iontronic sensors exhibiting distinct characteristics are developed via a skin-inspired gradient strategy with programmable performance of ultrahigh sensitivity (37,347.98 kPa−1) to 151.6 kPa or overall high sensitivity (130.93–1400.49 kPa−1) up to 956.7 kPa, capable of detecting both subtle arterial pulses and large motions like plantar pressure. Furthermore, the merit of ultrahigh sensitivity enables pressure sensors to record handwriting precisely and distinguish individual features, facilitating effective extraction of connotative information, and has been demonstrated in the proposed human-interactive system assisted with machine learning for individual authentication. The work provides valuable insight into reverse engineering of pressure sensors, promising benefits for broad intelligence applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-d02cdded93d94ad5b94212c396ee069d
institution Kabale University
issn 2397-4621
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series npj Flexible Electronics
spelling doaj-art-d02cdded93d94ad5b94212c396ee069d2025-08-20T03:53:16ZengNature Portfolionpj Flexible Electronics2397-46212025-05-019111310.1038/s41528-025-00420-9Programmable high-sensitivity iontronic pressure sensors support broad human-interactive perception and identificationYue Huang0Shaoxiong Hu1Ying Li2Rui Wang3Yuchen Yang4Wei Zhu5Yuan Deng6School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang UniversitySchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang UniversitySchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang UniversitySchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang UniversitySchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang UniversitySchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang UniversitySchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang UniversityAbstract Flexible pressure sensors are essential for human–machine interfaces and wearable devices, requiring accurate detection of diverse motion signals. However, challenges arise from material compressibility and mechanical limitations, hindering the development of sensors with both high sensitivity and wide sensing ranges, as well as the demand-driven designability. Here, iontronic sensors exhibiting distinct characteristics are developed via a skin-inspired gradient strategy with programmable performance of ultrahigh sensitivity (37,347.98 kPa−1) to 151.6 kPa or overall high sensitivity (130.93–1400.49 kPa−1) up to 956.7 kPa, capable of detecting both subtle arterial pulses and large motions like plantar pressure. Furthermore, the merit of ultrahigh sensitivity enables pressure sensors to record handwriting precisely and distinguish individual features, facilitating effective extraction of connotative information, and has been demonstrated in the proposed human-interactive system assisted with machine learning for individual authentication. The work provides valuable insight into reverse engineering of pressure sensors, promising benefits for broad intelligence applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00420-9
spellingShingle Yue Huang
Shaoxiong Hu
Ying Li
Rui Wang
Yuchen Yang
Wei Zhu
Yuan Deng
Programmable high-sensitivity iontronic pressure sensors support broad human-interactive perception and identification
npj Flexible Electronics
title Programmable high-sensitivity iontronic pressure sensors support broad human-interactive perception and identification
title_full Programmable high-sensitivity iontronic pressure sensors support broad human-interactive perception and identification
title_fullStr Programmable high-sensitivity iontronic pressure sensors support broad human-interactive perception and identification
title_full_unstemmed Programmable high-sensitivity iontronic pressure sensors support broad human-interactive perception and identification
title_short Programmable high-sensitivity iontronic pressure sensors support broad human-interactive perception and identification
title_sort programmable high sensitivity iontronic pressure sensors support broad human interactive perception and identification
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00420-9
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AT ruiwang programmablehighsensitivityiontronicpressuresensorssupportbroadhumaninteractiveperceptionandidentification
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