All‐Fiber Structured Electronic Skin with High Elasticity and Breathability

TLDR

Wearable electronic skins are gaining attention, but achieving high elasticity and breathability remains a challenge. The study aims to develop an all‑fiber structured electronic skin. The authors employ a scalable electrospinning fabrication technique to achieve this. The resulting skin shows 0.18 V kPa⁻¹ sensitivity over 0–175 kPa, retains performance under 50 % strain, conforms to various surfaces, allows high gas permeability (10.26 kg m⁻² d⁻¹), and can power small electronics, demonstrating high sensitivity, elasticity, breathability, self‑powering, and scalable fabrication.

Abstract

Abstract With the rapid advancement in artificial intelligence, wearable electronic skins have attracted substantial attention. However, the fabrication of such devices with high elasticity and breathability is still a challenge and highly desired. Here, a route to develop an all‐fiber structured electronic skin with a scalable electrospinning fabrication technique is reported. The fabricated electronic skin is demonstrated to exhibit high pressure sensing with a sensitivity of 0.18 V kPa −1 in the detection range of 0–175 kPa. This wearable device could maintain prominent sensing performance and mechanical stability in the presence of large deformation, even when the elastic deformation is up to 50%. The electronic skin is easily conformable on different desired objects for real‐time spatial mapping and long‐term tactile sensing. Besides, it possesses high gas permeability with a water vapor transmittance rate of 10.26 kg m −2 d −1 . More importantly, the electronic skin is capable of working in a self‐powered manner and even serves as a reliable power source to effectively drive small electronics. Possessing several compelling features, such as high sensitivity, high elasticity, high breathability as well as being self‐powered and scalable in fabrication, the presented device paves a pathway for smart electronic skins.