3D Printed Stretchable Tactile Sensors

TLDR

3D printing of multifunctional devices is rapidly advancing, enabling stretchable electronics that can be biointegrated with human skin and applied to wearable electronics, energy harvesting, prosthetics, and human‑machine interfaces. The authors employ a multimaterial, multiscale 3D printing process to fabricate tactile sensors that conform to free‑form surfaces at ambient conditions. The printed sensors can detect and distinguish human movements such as pulse and finger motions, demonstrating potential for biointegrated wearable electronics and advanced bionic skin.

Abstract

The development of methods for the 3D printing of multifunctional devices could impact areas ranging from wearable electronics and energy harvesting devices to smart prosthetics and human-machine interfaces. Recently, the development of stretchable electronic devices has accelerated, concomitant with advances in functional materials and fabrication processes. In particular, novel strategies have been developed to enable the intimate biointegration of wearable electronic devices with human skin in ways that bypass the mechanical and thermal restrictions of traditional microfabrication technologies. Here, a multimaterial, multiscale, and multifunctional 3D printing approach is employed to fabricate 3D tactile sensors under ambient conditions conformally onto freeform surfaces. The customized sensor is demonstrated with the capabilities of detecting and differentiating human movements, including pulse monitoring and finger motions. The custom 3D printing of functional materials and devices opens new routes for the biointegration of various sensors in wearable electronics systems, and toward advanced bionic skin applications.