Hybrid piezo-triboelectric porous PVDF/CNT/PDMS pressure sensor enabling surface-defect and texture recognition

Flexible pressure sensors are fundamental to intelligent devices, robotics and biomedical systems, where precise tactile feedback is essential for adaptive control. However, most single-mechanism sensors suffer from low sensitivity, unstable performance and limited ability to capture dynamic pressure variations. To overcome these limitations, this study presents a porous hybrid piezo-triboelectric pressure sensor (PCPS) that exploits the synergistic interaction between piezoelectric and triboelectric mechanisms. The sensor employs a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/carbon nanotube (CNT)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite as the active layer, with NaCl concentration tuning film porosity and CNT loading optimizing tensile strength and conductivity. Experimental results reveal a rapid response time below 40[Formula: see text]ms, accurate detection of dynamic signals up to 10[Formula: see text]Hz, and a linear voltage–force relationship over 0.1–9[Formula: see text]N, maintained after 6000 cycles of operation. Integrated with a bristle-bundle tactile interface, the PCPS generates distinct voltage profiles across surfaces of varying roughness and exhibits a 600[Formula: see text]mV peak when detecting micro-protrusions on glass. These results demonstrate a robust, high-resolution sensing platform suitable for surface-topography mapping and rapid nondestructive defect screening in intelligent industrial systems.