Flexible Photoacoustic Device Integrating Electroluminescence, Piezoelectric Vibration, and Pressure Sensing

Marine organisms rely on the integration of light, sound, and pressure sensing for essential activities such as communication, hunting, and predator evasion. Current bioinspired devices, however, are limited by independent sensing modules, leading to complex designs and reduced adaptability. This study addresses these challenges by developing a multifunctional flexible photoacoustic device (MFPAD) that integrates electroluminescence, piezoelectric vibration, and pressure sensing into a single structure. Using airflow-assisted electrospinning, the device's fibrous layers were fabricated to optimize mechanical properties and enable synchronized responses to luminescence, sound, and pressure. Evaluations showed that MFPAD is highly sensitive to pressure changes, with corresponding light emissions, and efficient sound output modulated by input voltage and frequency. The device also enabled real-time posture tracking in robotic fish using an image recognition algorithm based on luminescence. Additionally, deep learning models allowed for the reconstruction of missing key points during motion. These findings demonstrate the promising potential of MFPAD for advancing bioinspired systems with multimodal sensing capabilities, offering a scalable solution for complex environments.