Hyaline and stretchable haptic interfaces based on serpentine-shaped silver nanofiber networks

Abstract

Abstract Skin-like epidermal electronic technologies are making significant marks in the field of human and machine interaction, with critical applications in prosthetics and robotic systems. However, currently existing skin-interface devices can not statisfy both the high transparency and the large stretchability simultaneously, especially for flexible smart screens, curved optical projections, and patient-friendly medical skin-devices. This study presents a hyaline and stretchable haptic interface (HSHI) based on 20 × 20 capacitive sensor array, simultaneously demonstrating both high transparency and large stretchability. The serpentine design of netlike conductive architectures with narrow nanofibers under surface plasmons in the HSHI can maximize light transmittance (>90%), and form the compatibility of structures and functions with the considerable mechanical strain (>50%). Multifunctional HSHI performs the vary great tactile and geometric adaptation from obviously capacitive-effect shifts for interfacing and switching systems on the robotic arm and the screen. The routes for designing and manufacturing the HSHI also provide effective ways for various complex performances and special application outreaching usual methods through integrating serpentine stretchable technologies and the transparent nanowire arrays.