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Updated: Jan 17, 2026
Bioinspired Soft Robot with Incorporated Microelectrodes
Published on: February 28, 2020
Rapid Template-Transferred Printing of Gelatin-Based Ionogels with Bioinspired Hierarchical Microstructures for
Liyuan Qiu1,2, Nan Li1,3,4, Bin Li3
1State Key Laboratory of Green Papermaking and Resource Recycling, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, China.
Abstract:
Flexible pressure sensors are pivotal for e-skin, artificial intelligence interactions, and personalized medicine. Nevertheless, integrating high sensitivity, a broad detection range, and biodegradability remains difficult. Herein, we developed a flexible piezoresistive tactile sensor comprising a gelatin/deep eutectic solvent/sodium citrate (GDS) ionogel substrate, a carbon nanotube (CNT)/gelatin sprayed hierarchical microstructure sensing layer, and a gelatin gel-based interdigitated electrode. The hierarchical microstructures and interdigital microgrooves, fabricated via template transfer printing, mimic the interlocking spinous structures of human skin, enhancing stress distribution and sensitivity. Due to the superior mechanical properties of the GDS ionogel matrix and the "interlocking effect" between the microstructures and interdigital electrode, the sensor achieves high sensitivity (6.16 kPa-1), broad range (up to 173 kPa), fast response (<10 ms), low detection limit (10 Pa), and excellent cycling stability over 8000 cycles. Applications in human activity monitoring and human-computer interaction highlight its potential for ultraprecise sensing.
