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Updated: Oct 24, 2026

Microfluidic Channel-Based Soft Electrodes and Their Application in Capacitive Pressure Sensing
Published on: March 17, 2023
All-soft organic electrochemical diodes based on asymmetric active layers for signal isolation in deformable
Sehyun Kim1, Minji Kim1, Haechan Park1
1Department of Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
All-soft electronics have emerged as a promising platform for deformable and human-centric systems, yet the development of mechanically compliant diodes remains a major challenge due to limitations in material compatibility, device architecture, and stable operation under deformation. Electrochemical approaches offer a viable route to address this challenge by enabling bulk, low-voltage charge modulation in soft materials without relying on rigid junction interfaces. Here, we report, to the best of our knowledge, the first all-soft organic electrochemical diode (OECD) based on an asymmetric active-layer geometry. The device incorporates a transfer-printed ultrathin ion-gel interface that preserves conformal coverage and the active electrochemical architecture under strain. The device achieves high rectification through polarity-dependent electrochemical potential redistribution, with a rectification ratio of up to 2.23 × 104 at ±1 V and stable operation under tensile strains of up to 30% and repeated mechanical deformation. This ion-gel-based architecture preserves the electrochemical asymmetry required for diode operation while maintaining structural integrity under strain. Beyond the individual device, the all-soft OECD enables deformable rectifiers and logic gates and functions as a key signal-isolation element that suppresses cross-talk in a deformable pressure-sensing array. These results establish an electrochemical diode platform that combines mechanical deformability, high rectification performance, and circuit-level compatibility, providing a pathway toward fully deformable and integrated human-centric electronic systems.
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