Monitoring of physiological body signals and human activity based on ultra-sensitive tactile sensor and artificial electronic skin by direct growth of ZnSnO3 on silica cloth

Abstract

This report demonstrates of the direct growth of ternary compound ZnSnO3 nanocubes on silica cloth for the fabrication of scalable tactile sensors for monitoring physiological signals which even the highly sensitive tactile sensors fail to measure and artificial electronic skin (E-skin) without the use of sophisticated silicon wafer based technologies. The fabricated sensor exhibited a sensitivity and response time of 0.12 KPa−1 and 350 ms respectively. Inspired by the inherent alignment of the ZnSnO3 nanocubes on silica microfibers, the fabricated sensor was further demonstrated to be able to recognize wrist pulse pressure, finger movement, wrist movement and finger pressing. Furthermore, large area sensors array (4 × 4) were fabricated and integrated onto human hand which can “feel” the touch and spatially map the response paving way for the development of E-skin. Also, the sensor array was able to detect and map the shape and location of unknown objects placed on it and could trace the index finger trajectory made on the sensor array. The fabricated pressure sensor was tested for its reliability by performing bending test studies under harsh deformations and 500 bending cycles which resulted in negligible change in the performance of the sensor.