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Liquid‐Metal‐Based Dynamic Thermoregulating and Self‐Powered Electronic Skin
Author(s) -
Xiang Shengxin,
Liu Dongjuan,
Jiang Chenchao,
Zhou Wenmin,
Ling Dan,
Zheng Wentao,
Sun Xiupeng,
Li Xing,
Mao Yanchao,
Shan Chongxin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202100940
Subject(s) - human skin , materials science , skin temperature , triboelectric effect , electronic skin , computer science , nanotechnology , biomedical engineering , engineering , composite material , genetics , biology
Electronic skin (E‐skin) is an emerging and promising human‐machine interface. Besides skin‐like functions of tactile perception and stretchability, skin‐like comfortabilities, including breathability, moisture permeability, softness, and thermoregulating ability are, also crucial factors for E‐skins. Thermoregulation is one of the most important roles of human skin. People can feel comfortable when their skins are regulated at a certain range of temperature. Moreover, it is a dynamic process according to the surrounding temperature. Current E‐skins do not have the function of dynamically regulating their temperature. Here, a thermoregulating E‐skin (TE‐skin) based on liquid metal as a phase change material with its melting point in the comfortable temperature range of human skin is reported. Compared with conventional E‐skins, the TE‐skin can dynamically termoregulate according to the surrounding temperature through a phase change. Combining with the principle of triboelectric nanogenerator, the TE‐skin is also able to act as a self‐powered sensor. Based on the self‐powered TE‐skin, an intelligent dialing communications system is further developed, which can be used to call a cellphone on human skin. For the first time, this study introduces the dynamic thermoregulating concept to E‐skins and could open up new opportunities for E‐skin developments.