Bioinspired Omnidirectional Iontronic Sensors Based on Triboelectric Charge
Flexible pressure sensors are critical components in next-generation wearable electronics and intelligent human-machine interface (HMI). However, conventional designs often suffer from limited sensitivity and uniaxial force detection, restricting their applicability in complex environments. Here, a bioinspired omnidirectional iontronic sensor (BOIS) is presented, engineered via triboelectric coupling and featuring a cross-scale architecture inspired by the spatial encoding properties of cochlear cilia. Through the integration of a 70° inclined macroscopic ciliary array based on Fibonacci helix optimization and 3D printing technology, the sensor achieves high-resolution detection of both normal and shear forces. The incorporation of iontronic effects further enhances sensitivity via synergistic charge modulation. The resulting flexible sensing platform demonstrates excellent mechanical compliance, multi-axis responsiveness, and high precision in monitoring dynamic joint motions such as wrist bending and finger flexion. This work offers a robust strategy for advancing omnidirectional tactile sensing, with promising applications in medical rehabilitation, soft robotics, and HMI.
Authors
- Yi Du (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3288-1573)
- Yaowen Ouyang
- Zunkang Zhou
- Di Wei
- Yuyang Zhang
- Jie Fu
Institutions
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems (CN)
- Zhejiang Medicine (China) (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Small
- Published
- 2026-01-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202510157
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China