Human Skin-Inspired Staggered Microstructures for Optimizing Sensitivity of Flexible Pressure Sensor

Flexible pressure sensors play a significant role in wearable electronics, human-machine interfaces, and health monitoring, and improving their performance has always been a major focus of research. Various microstructures have been proposed to enhance sensitivity, particularly when tilted. However, unidirectional tilting may create a shift in contact surfaces, reducing accuracy in pressure detection. To address these limitations, this study introduces a capacitive pressure sensor with a staggered tilted column microstructure, inspired by the elaborate network of epidermis and dermis layers within human skin. The simulation and experiment results reveal that the developed sensor has high sensitivity and responds rapidly to applied forces, making it suitable for real-time applications. Demonstrations of gesture recognition and physiological monitoring highlight its practical potential. These findings underscore the effectiveness of the staggered microstructure in improving sensor performance and its applicability in next-generation flexible sensors.