Electronic skin with biomimetic structures realizes excellent isothermal regulation

Abstract

Simulating the various functions of the human body in electronic skin to give it a higher level of bionics is the basis for realizing intelligent interaction. Isothermal regulation is the key to realizing a healthy life of the body, yet only simple heating or cooling is achieved in electronic skin. Here, we propose a novel thermoregulating electronic skin (thermo-e-skin) with biomimetic structures, which mimics the human body thermoregulation mechanism by integrating a flexible thermoelectric device with a hydrogel composite material. Through the delicate balance of heat generation and dissipation, the thermo-e-skin maintained a stable surface temperature of 35 °C across a wide range of ambient temperatures from 10 °C to 45 °C for extended durations (e.g., 4.2 h at an ambient temperature of 40 °C). Additionally, the thermo-e-skin, equipped with water regeneration capabilities, exhibits exceptional cyclic performance, further demonstrating its practical potential for soft electronics, bionics, and prosthetics.