Bioinspired Interlocked Structure-Induced High Deformability for Two-Dimensional Titanium Carbide (MXene)/Natural Microcapsule-Based Flexible Pressure Sensors

TLDR

High deformability with minimal stimulation is a key challenge for wearable electronics, and natural hierarchical or interlocked structures—such as the epidermal–dermal microbridges in human skin—provide exceptional elasticity and signal amplification. The study aims to create Ti3C2/natural microcapsule biocomposite films that mimic skin’s hierarchical, interlocked microstructure to achieve robust, highly deformable pressure sensors. By integrating interlocked hierarchical microstructures into the Ti3C2/natural microcapsule films, the authors achieve an elastic modulus of 0.73 MPa and high deformability, as confirmed by theoretical analysis. The resulting sensor exhibits a 9.4‑fold higher pressure sensitivity (24.63 kPa⁻¹ vs 2.61 kPa⁻¹), a 14 ms response time, stable performance over 5,000 cycles, and can discriminate finger motion, human pulses, and voice signals.

Abstract

Achieving high deformability in response to minimal external stimulation while maximizing human–machine interactions is a considerable challenge for wearable and flexible electronics applications. Various natural materials or living organisms consisting of hierarchical or interlocked structures exhibit combinations of properties (e.g., natural elasticity and flexibility) that do not occur in conventional materials. The interlocked epidermal–dermal microbridges in human skin have excellent elastic moduli, which enhance and amplify received tactile signal transport. Herein, we use the sensing mechanisms inspired by human skin to develop Ti3C2/natural microcapsule biocomposite films that are robust and deformable by mimicking the micro/nanoscale structure of human skin—such as the hierarchy, interlocking, and patterning. The interlocked hierarchical structures can be used to create biocomposite films with excellent elastic moduli (0.73 MPa), capable of high deformability in response to various external stimuli, as verified by employing theoretical studies. The flexible sensor with a hierarchical and interlocked structure (24.63 kPa–1) achieves a 9.4-fold increase in pressure sensitivity compared to that of the planar structured Ti3C2-based flexible sensor (2.61 kPa–1). This device also exhibits a rapid response rate (14 ms) and good cycling reproducibility and stability (5000 times). In addition, the flexible pressure device can be used to detect and discriminate signals ranging from finger motion and human pulses to voice recognition.