Flexible Pressure Sensor With Wide Linear Sensing Range for Human–Machine Interaction

Abstract

Flexible pressure sensors hold great potential for applications in human–machine interaction and flexible robotics, but the balance of their sensitivity and sensing range remains a challenge. Here, we proposed a flexible piezoresistive pressure sensor based on poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT: PSS) and cross interlocked nylon fabrics. The sensor exhibited a wide sensing range (~1.5 mPa), a low detection limit (6 Pa), a fast response time (less than 40 ms), and an excellent cycling stability (at least 16 000 cycles without any decay). The excellent performance is attributed to the fact that the cross interlocked structure can form a mechanically stable and three-dimensional (3D) sensitive conductive network which allowed a contact area of the pressure sensor to vary continuously, resulting in an extremely large pressure sensing range. In addition, the sensor array system was successfully fabricated and integrated with a rank scanning circuit to achieve mapping and identification of spatial pressure distribution. Finally, we have built and demonstrated a sensing system capable of wireless real-time gesture interaction with a robot. These results provide a new direction for the fabrication of high-performance sensors with tremendous applications for healthcare, wearable electronics, electronic skin, and smart robots.