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High Sensitivity, Wearable, Piezoresistive Pressure Sensors Based on Irregular Microhump Structures and Its Applications in Body Motion Sensing
Author(s) -
Wang Zongrong,
Wang Shan,
Zeng Jifang,
Ren Xiaochen,
Chee Adrian J. Y.,
Yiu Billy Y. S.,
Chung Wai Choi,
Yang Yong,
Yu Alfred C. H.,
Roberts Robert C.,
Tsang Anderson C. O.,
Chow Kwok Wing,
Chan Paddy K. L.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201601419
Subject(s) - piezoresistive effect , materials science , polydimethylsiloxane , sandpaper , pressure sensor , sensitivity (control systems) , optoelectronics , silicon carbide , wearable computer , finite element method , acoustics , nanotechnology , electronic engineering , computer science , mechanical engineering , engineering , composite material , embedded system , physics , structural engineering
A pressure sensor based on irregular microhump patterns has been proposed and developed. The devices show high sensitivity and broad operating pressure regime while comparing with regular micropattern devices. Finite element analysis (FEA) is utilized to confirm the sensing mechanism and predict the performance of the pressure sensor based on the microhump structures. Silicon carbide sandpaper is employed as the mold to develop polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microhump patterns with various sizes. The active layer of the piezoresistive pressure sensor is developed by spin coating PEDOT:PSS on top of the patterned PDMS. The devices show an averaged sensitivity as high as 851 kPa −1 , broad operating pressure range (20 kPa), low operating power (100 nW), and fast response speed (6.7 kHz). Owing to their flexible properties, the devices are applied to human body motion sensing and radial artery pulse. These flexible high sensitivity devices show great potential in the next generation of smart sensors for robotics, real‐time health monitoring, and biomedical applications.