Triboelectric tactile sensor for pressure and temperature sensing in high-temperature applications

TLDR

Skin‑like sensors that detect multiple stimuli simultaneously hold great promise for advanced human‑machine interaction, yet achieving multimodal tactile recognition beyond human perception and operating in high‑temperature environments remains challenging. The study develops an extreme‑environment‑adaptive multimodal triboelectric sensor to detect pressure and temperature beyond human perception. The sensor uses triboelectric nanogenerator technology with an asymmetric structure that independently outputs dual signals, enhancing sensitivity for pressure and temperature detection. The sensor achieved 94 % object recognition and accurate temperature sensing up to 200 °C, with rapid response and stable performance, thereby extending the detection range and enabling self‑powered multimodal interaction in high‑temperature settings.

Abstract

Skin-like sensors capable of detecting multiple stimuli simultaneously have great potential in cutting-edge human-machine interaction. However, realizing multimodal tactile recognition beyond human tactile perception still faces significant challenges. Here, an extreme environments-adaptive multimodal triboelectric sensor was developed, capable of detecting pressure/temperatures beyond the range of human perception. Based on triboelectric nanogenerator technology, an asymmetric structure capable of independently outputting dual signals was designed to improve perception sensitivity. By converting the signals and the stimuli into feature matrices, parallel perception of complex objects (with a recognition rate of 94%) and temperature at high temperatures was achieved. The proposed multimodal triboelectric tactile sensor represents progress in maximum detection range and rapid response, realizing the upper limit of human skin's high-temperature sensing (60 °C) with a working temperature of 200 °C. The proposed self-powered multimodal sensing system offers a wider range of possibilities for human/robot/environment interaction applications. Existing tactile sensors struggle with high-temperature environments. Here, authors developed a triboelectric tactile sensor with an asymmetric structure and heat-resistant materials, enabling 94% object recognition rate, fast response times, and stable performance up to 200 °C.