A Thermally Stable Piezoresistive Textile for Reliable Tactile Sensing

Robotic applications in high-temperature environments demand flexible tactile sensors that can endure extreme heat. Conventional sensors, typically made of polymers and carbon-based materials, deteriorate quickly under such conditions. This work introduces a novel piezoresistive textile for stable tactile sensing above 495°C. The exceptional durability and heat resistance come from the robust core-shell design of the materials, featuring a silicon oxycarbide core and an amorphous carbon shell, which demonstrates unparalleled mechanical strength and flame resistance. With airflow-assisted rotary spinning and density-controlled sintering, the piezoresistive textile is scalable and consistently performs at temperatures up to 250°C for over 24 h and can withstand even higher temperatures of 495°C for 4 h. When integrated into a robotic gripper, the ultrahigh temperature textile sensor successfully retrieves a small item from flames fueled by alcohol, showcasing its effectiveness in high-temperature tactile sensing. This innovative textile sensor offers a promising solution for tactile sensing and robotic applications in high-temperature environments.