Single polymer fiber-based ultrasensitive and multifunctional flexible microsensor via arthropod-inspired crack-helix...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Micro-robotics
• Biomimetic Engineering

Background:

• Flexible microsensors are crucial for soft electronics like implantable health monitors and soft robotics.
• Integrating miniature dimensions, high sensitivity, and stability in microsensors is challenging due to space constraints.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel soft microsensor inspired by arthropod sensory systems.
• To overcome fabrication and functionality limitations in current soft microsensors.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a crack-helix soft microsensor (CHMS) within a single polymer microfiber (80 μm diameter).
• Deposition of a thin layer (2.5 μm) of biphasic liquid metals onto the microfiber.
• Utilizing biomimetic design principles from arthropod microscale sensing systems.

Main Results:

• The CHMS achieved frequency detection capabilities (0.01 Hz resolution, > 1,088 Hz), ultrahigh sensitivity (Gauge Factor > 2,711), and a low detection limit (0.05% strain, 0.2 mN).
• Demonstrated excellent sensing durability (> 50,000 cycles).
• Showcased multifunctional environmental perception, detecting subtle underwater/ground vibrations (< 70 μm amplitude) and rarefied airflow (2.2 × 10^-4 g/s·cm² mass flux).

Conclusions:

• The CHMS successfully integrates high sensitivity, stability, and multifunctional perception in a single microfiber device.
• This biomimetic microsensor represents a significant advancement for soft electronics, offering performance comparable to or exceeding existing soft sensors.
• The CHMS design provides a promising platform for future applications in health monitoring, robotics, and environmental sensing.