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Updated: Oct 2, 2026

Microfluidic Channel-Based Soft Electrodes and Their Application in Capacitive Pressure Sensing
Published on: March 17, 2023
Architected conductive networks enabling tunable pressure sensitivity in stretchable sensor arrays for intelligent
Juntao Zhu1, Haoting Zhang1, Yuhan Bian1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Abstract:
Stretchable sensor arrays are essential for bridging the physical environment with intelligent tactile perception in wearable electronics and soft robotics. However, achieving high sensitivity across a wide dynamic range remains a persistent challenge due to the inherent trade-offs in conductive network stability. Here, we report an architected sensor array featuring tunable sensitivity, enabled by a mixed-dimensional network comprising carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and carbon black (CB). Diverging from single-filler systems characterized by abrupt conductivity transitions, this synergistic design employs CNFs as a structural skeleton and CB particles as interconnected tunneling bridges. Such geometric coupling effectively lowers the percolation threshold and establishes a gradual transition zone, which preserves mechanical compliance while ensuring stable electromechanical transduction. To mitigate crosstalk in large-scale matrices, a hardware-software integrated strategy is implemented, combining multi-channel scanning with an optimized equivalent circuit model. This approach facilitates algorithmic signal decoupling for high-fidelity pressure mapping and precise reconstruction of handwritten trajectories. This work provides a scalable strategy for engineering high-performance soft electronics with enhanced tactile intelligence.
