Direct ink writing flexible pressure sensor array for tactile perception and feedback

Abstract Flexible pressure sensors, as an emerging pressure-sensitive element with sensing ability similar to human skin, have a broad application prospect in the fields of health monitoring, e-skin, intelligent robotics and so on. Herein, a flexible pressure sensor array printed based on DIW (Direct Ink Writing, is an additive manufacturing technology that realizes complex patterns by controllable extrusion of functional inks for electrode preparation in flexible electronic devices) technology is designed and fabricated. It consists of three main components, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a flexible substrate, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric film as a sensitive layer, and patterned electrodes printed using direct ink writing (DIW) technology. This device demonstrates the high-pressure sensing sensitivity of 51.48 μV kPa −1 , a low detection limit (0.31 kPa), a fast response/recovery time of 68/102 ms, excellent cycle stability and durability. Moreover, the sensor can successfully detect body movements such as hand bending and swallowing, etc Furthermore, a 10 × 10 sensor array printed based on DIW technology is capable of perceiving and providing feedback on the spatial distribution of external pressure. The flexible pressure sensor printed based on DIW technology has great application prospects in monitoring human movement and flexible wearable electronic skin.