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Flexible Magnetoreceptor with Tunable Intrinsic Logic for On‐Skin Touchless Human‐Machine Interfaces
Author(s) -
Makushko Pavlo,
Oliveros Mata Eduardo Sergio,
Cañón Bermúdez Gilbert Santiago,
Hassan Mariam,
Laureti Sara,
Rinaldi Christian,
Fagiani Federico,
Barucca Gianni,
Schmidt Nataliia,
Zabila Yevhen,
Kosub Tobias,
Illing Rico,
Volkov Oleksii,
Vladymyrskyi Igor,
Fassbender Jürgen,
Albrecht Manfred,
Varvaro Gaspare,
Makarov Denys
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.202101089
Subject(s) - electronics , bend radius , wearable technology , computer science , wearable computer , electronic skin , magnetic field , sensitivity (control systems) , materials science , bending , electrical engineering , nanotechnology , embedded system , physics , electronic engineering , engineering , quantum mechanics , composite material
Artificial magnetoception is a new and yet to be explored path for humans to interact with the surroundings. This technology is enabled by thin film magnetic field sensors embedded in a soft and flexible format to constitute magnetosensitive electronic skins (e‐skins). Being limited by the sensitivity to in‐plane magnetic fields, magnetosensitive e‐skins are restricted to basic proximity and angle sensing and are not used as switches or logic elements of interactive wearable electronics. Here, a novel magnetoreceptive platform for on‐skin touchless interactive electronics based on flexible spin valve switches with sensitivity to out‐of‐plane magnetic fields is demonstrated. The technology relies on all‐metal Co/Pd‐based spin valves with a synthetic antiferromagnet possessing perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The flexible magnetoreceptors act as logic elements, namely momentary and permanent (latching) switches. The switches maintain their performance even upon bending to a radius of less than 3.5 mm and withstand repetitive bending for hundreds of cycles. Here, flexible switches are integrated in on‐skin interactive electronics and their performance as touchless human‐machine interfaces is demonstrated, which are intuitive to use, energy efficient, and insensitive to external magnetic disturbances. This technology offers qualitatively new functionalities for electronic skins and paves the way towards full‐fledged on‐skin touchless interactive electronics.