Abstract
Based on the related characteristics of optical waveguide and flexible optical materials, a flexible and stretchable optical waveguide structure oriented to tactile perception is proposed. The sensing principle of optical waveguide is based on mechanical deformation caused by output light loss. It overcomes the shortcomings of traditional optical waveguide devices, which are unable to conform to irregular surface. The flexible and stretchable optical waveguide is fabricated with nanoreplica molding method, and it has been applied to the measurement of pressure and strain in the field of tactile sensing. The flexible and stretchable optical waveguide had a strain detection range of 0 to 12.5%, and the external force detection range is from 0 to 23 × 10–3 N.
Highlights
Conventional rigid optical waveguides cannot match the requirements of flexible electronics and soft robotics [5–7]
In summary, flexible and stretchable waveguides are suitable for applications in the field of tactile sensing, healthcare and flexible electronics
The flexible and stretchable optical waveguide is fabricated on the flexible optical materials with silicon grating template, and the nanograting structure can be transferred to the flexible optical material by nanoreplica molding
Summary
Optical waveguide is a structure that guides the transmission of light wave [1–4]. Conventional rigid optical waveguides cannot match the requirements of flexible electronics and soft robotics [5–7]. Flexible and stretchable devices will be an important part for robotic tactile sensing system, which can realize the perception of human–machine interaction, and has a high degree of flexibility, stretchability, adaptability, sensitivity, biocompatibility, and immune to electromagnetic interference [8–12]. Wang et al fabricated a bioinspired flexible pressure sensors based on Ti3C2/MC biocomposite film with a pressure sensitivity of 24.63 kPa−1, and silk FibroinMXene film had been used as pressure sensor with biocompatibility and high-performance [13, 14]. Ran et al fabricated a flexible biomimetic Infrared (IR) detection amplification system for high-contrast imaging of IR light, and the peak photosensitivity can reach to 7.6 × 104 under the wavelength of 1342 nm [15]. The flexible and stretchable optical waveguide based on nanograting structure can be fabricated into tactile sensing devices
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