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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
08:35
Hybrid Printing for the Fabrication of Smart Sensors
Published on: January 31, 2019
Feed-Draw Printing Enables Monolithically Integrated Flexible Sensors With High Interfacial Toughness and Wide Linear
Xingxiang Li1, Ziqi Hua1, Yuxuan Sun1
1Institute of Humanoid Robots, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|July 7, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new monolithic microcone capacitive sensor (MMCS) using feed-draw printing. This durable and sensitive flexible sensor offers improved integration for wearable electronics and robotic applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Robotics
- Wearable Electronics
Background:
- Flexible sensors face challenges in balancing sensitivity, durability, and integration.
- Existing microcone sensors struggle with interfacial bonding and performance limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel monolithic microcone capacitive sensor (MMCS) with enhanced durability and tunable sensitivity.
- To demonstrate a generalizable fabrication strategy for robust and integrated soft sensors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a feed-draw printing (FDP) strategy for direct fabrication of programmable microcone morphologies.
- Achieved in situ co-curing of dielectric and electrode layers, creating covalently interlinked interfaces.
- Fabricated MMCS with interfacial toughness up to 1547 J m-2.
Main Results:
- The MMCS demonstrated exceptional durability, maintaining performance over 200,000 loading cycles.
- Achieved on-demand sensitivity tuning up to 0.29 kPa-1, with a low detection limit of 1 Pa and a wide range (0-450 kPa).
- Successfully integrated MMCS into wearable bands for sports analytics and soft grippers for robotic grasping.
Conclusions:
- The FDP strategy enables the creation of highly durable and sensitive soft sensors with robust interfacial bonding.
- The MMCS technology provides a versatile platform for advanced wearable and robotic sensing applications.
- This work paves the way for practical, high-performance soft sensors with enhanced functionality and integration.
