Recent Progress in the Development of Resistive Flexible Tactile Sensors
YANG Ping’an1, LIU Zhongbang1, LI Rui1,*, QU Zhengwei1, HUANG Xin1, SHOU Mengjie1, YANG Jianjian2,*, XIONG Yuting1
1 School of Automation, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China 2 Institute of Chemical Defence, Academy of Military Sciences, Wuhan 710018, China
Abstract: Owing to the characteristics, such as flexibility, sensitivity, simplicity, reliability, wide detection range, and easy integration, resistive flexible tactile sensors, which have extended application prospects, play a significant role in sensing applications, such as tactile perception, human-computer interaction, and medical health. With the rapid development of resistive flexible tactile sensors, various aspects involving their design and preparation, such as microstructures and 3D printing technology, have become more sophisticated, which have greatly improved their flexibility and sensitivity. Nevertheless, the manufacturing process of high-performance resistive flexible tactile sensors is still complicated, which severely limits their high-volume production. In addition, resistive flexible tactile sensors cannot achieve the expectations of a large-area coverage and high-density perception due to the limitations in scalability, high efficiency, and low consumption. Moreover, the simultaneous realization of high flexibility and sensitivity is difficult, resulting in further limitations to sensing. To combat these challenges, numerous international scholars, who expect to achieve the application of tactile sensing systems in electronic skin, have performed a lot of research on the selection of the flexible substrates and conductive materials, as well as on the design of sensitive units and array structures. Currently, resistive flexible tactile sensors are progressing toward the direction of miniaturization, integration, self-healing, self-cleaning, biological adaptation, biodegradation, and neural interface control;these have become excellent achievements in multifunctional sensing. This paper introduces the principle and performance of resistive flexible tactile sensors and summarizes the research status and key technology in terms of material selection, structure design, and performance optimization. It also discusses the applications in the related fields, such as tac-tile perception, human-computer interaction and health care. Finally, the technical problems of resistive flexible tactile sensors are pointed out, and the scope for improvement in the future has been outlined.
1 Chi C, Sun X, Xue N, et al. Sensors, 2018, 18, 948. 2 Deng Liuliu, Deng Yong, Zhang Lei. Modern Manufacturing Engineering, 2018(2), 6(in Chinese). 邓刘刘, 邓勇, 张磊. 现代制造工程, 2018(2), 6. 3 Song Aiguo. Measurement & Control Technology, 2020, 39(5), 7(in Chinese). 宋爱国. 测控技术. 2020, 39(5), 7. 4 Liu K, Zhou Z, Yan X, et al. Polymers, 2019, 11, 1120. 5 Wang T, Wang R, Cheng Y, et al. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2016, 8(14), 9297. 6 Shi R, Lou Z, Chen S, et al. Science China Materials, 2018, 61, 1587. 7 Li R Z, Hu A, Zhang T, et al. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2014, 6, 21721. 8 Kawasetsu T, Horii T, Ishihara H, et al. IEEE Sensors Journal, 2018, 18, 5834. 9 Fan Y, Liao C, Liao G, et al. Smart Materials and Structures, 2017, 26, 075003. 10 Xu J, Pei L, Li J, et al. Composites Science and Technology, 2019, 183, 107820. 11 Zhu G, Yang W Q, Zhang T, et al. Nano Letters, 2014, 14, 3208. 12 Speeter T H. International Journal of Robotics Research, 1990, 9, 25. 13 Hara T, Horii E, An K N, et al. Journal of Hand Surgery-American Volume, 1992, 17, 339. 14 Takei K, Takahashi T, Ho J C, et al. Nature Materials, 2010, 9, 821. 15 Morteza Amjadi, Aekachan Pichitpajongkit, Sangjun Lee, et al. ACS Nano, 2014, 8, 10. 16 Yuan F, Wang S, Zhang S, et al. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2019, 7, 8412. 17 Tai Y, Chen T, Lubineau G. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2017, 9, 32184. 18 Kim J, Lee M, Shim H J, et al. Nature Communications, 2014, 5, 5747. 19 Jo H S, An S, Park C W, et al. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2019, 11, 40232. 20 Lee D, Lee H, Ahn Y, et al. Carbon, 2015, 81, 439. 21 Ding L, Xuan S, Feng J, et al. Composites Part A-Applied Science Manufacturing, 2017, 100, 97. 22 Huynh T P, Haick H. Advanced Materials, 2016, 28, 138. 23 Hou X Y, Guo C F. Acta Physica Sinica, 2020, 69(17),16(in Chinese). 侯星宇, 郭传飞. 物理学报, 2020, 69(17),16. 24 Pan L, Chortos A, Yu G, et al. Nature Communications, 2014, 5, 3002. 25 Rana V, Gangwar P, Meena J S, et al. Nanotechnology, 2020, 31, 385501. 26 Ding L, Xuan S, Pei L, et al. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2018, 10, 30774. 27 Ding L, Pei L, Xuan S, et al. Advanced Electronic Materials, 2020, 6, 1900653. 28 Pataniya P M, Sumesh C K, Tannarana M, et al. Nanotechnology, 2020, 31, 435503. 29 Wang H, Yang H, Zhang S, et al. Advanced Materials Technologies, 2019, 4, 1900147. 30 Zhou C, Yang Y, Sun N, et al. Nano Research, 2018, 11, 4313. 31 Cao M, Wang M, Li L, et al. Nano Energy, 2018, 50, 528. 32 Zhao S, Guo L, Li J, et al. Small, 2017, 13, 1700944. 33 Li J, Zhao S, Zeng X, et al. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2016, 8, 18954. 34 Tai Y L, Yang Z G. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2015, 3, 5436. 35 Wang S, Chen K, Wang M, et al. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2018, 6, 4737. 36 Yang G, Liu L, Wu Z. Smart Materials and Structures, 2019, 28, 065009. 37 Wang S, Xuan S, Liu M, et al. Soft Matter, 2017, 13, 2483. 38 Liu K, Yu J, Li Y, et al. Advanced Materials Technologies, 2019, 4, 1900475. 39 Pataniya P M, Sumesh C K, Tannarana M, et al. Nanotechnology, 2020, 31, 435503. 40 Yu Z, Ying W B, Pravarthana D, et al. Materials Today Physics, 2020, 14, 100219. 41 Lee D, Lee H, Ahn Y, et al. Carbon, 2015, 81, 439. 42 Amjadi M, Pichitpajongkit A, Lee S, et al. ACS Nano, 2014, 8, 5154. 43 Hu T, Xuan S, Ding L, et al. Materials & Design, 2018, 156, 528. 44 Han F, Li J, Zhao S, et al. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2017, 5, 10167. 45 Chen Z, Ren W C, Gao L B, et al. Nature Materials, 2011, 10, 6. 46 Xu H, Shen Z, Gu G. Science China-Technological Sciences, 2020, 63, 923. 47 Hou W, Sheng N, Zhang X, et al. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2019, 211, 322. 48 Wang X, Yue O, Liu X, et al. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2020, 392, 123672. 49 Hu T, Xuan S, Ding L, et al. Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical, 2020, 314, 128095. 50 Liu H C, Yang M K, Yuan X, et al. China Mechanical Engineering, 2021, 32(12), 1470(in Chinese). 刘会聪, 杨梦柯, 袁鑫, 等. 中国机械工程, 2021, 32(12), 1470. 51 Zhao J, Luo J, Zhou Z, et al. Sensors and Actuators A-Physical, 2021, 323, 112658. 52 Yin R, Yang S, Li Q, et al. Science Bulletin, 2020, 65, 899. 53 Lu Y, Qu X, Zhao W, et al. Research, 2020, 2020, 1. 54 Jaggers R W, Chen R, Bon S A F. Materials Horizons, 2016, 3, 41. 55 Xiang Y, Fang L, Wu F, et al. Advanced Materials Technologies, 2021, 6, 2001157. 56 Su B, Gong S, Ma Z, et al. Small, 2015, 11, 1886. 57 Wang H, Yang H, Zhang S, et al. Advanced Materials Technologies, 2019, 4, 1900147. 58 Pang C, Lee G Y, Kim T, et al. Nature Materials, 2012, 11, 795. 59 Ma Z, Wei A, Ma J, et al. Nanoscale, 2018, 10, 7116. 60 Pan L, Chortos A, Yu G, et al. Nature Communications, 2014, 5, 3002. 61 Zhao X F, Hang C Z, Wen X H, et al. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2020, 12, 14136. 62 Jiang L, Liu H, Cai H G, et al. China Mechanical Engineering, 2002, 13(24),4(in Chinese). 姜力, 刘宏, 蔡鹤皋, 等. 中国机械工程, 2002,13(24),4. 63 Leng M X, Song A G. Journal of Electrical &Electronic Education, 2017, 39(5), 4(in Chinese). 冷明鑫, 宋爱国. 电气电子教学学报, 2017, 39,(5)4. 64 Huang Y, Li H Y, Zhang Y G, et al. Journal of Hefei University of Technology, 2014, 37(2),5 (in Chinese). 黄英, 李浩洋, 张玉刚, 等. 合肥工业大学学报(自然科学版), 2014, 37(2),5. 65 Hu J F, Cai J Y, Zheng C H. Journal of Electronic Mea-surement and Instrumentation, 2016, 30(3),9(in Chinese). 胡俊峰, 蔡建阳, 郑昌虎. 电子测量与仪器学报, 2016, 30(3),9. 66 Zhou Y, She X Y, Liu X W, et al. Journal of Functional Materials, 2021, 52(8), 8068(in Chinese). 周杨, 佘小燕, 刘新蔚, 等. 功能材料, 2021, 52(8), 8068. 67 Zhang W, Ma H, Yang SX. Expert Systems with Applications, 2015, 42, 1039. 68 Song Y, Wang F, Zhang Z. Micromachines, 2018, 9, 236. 69 Zhang H, He R, Liu H, et al. Sensors and Actuators A-Physical, 2021, 322, 112611. 70 Liu P, Chen B L, Xiao F Y, et al. Journal of Chongqing University of Technology(Natural Science), 2021, 35(8), 90(in Chinese). 刘鹏, 陈宝亮, 肖飞云, 等. 重庆理工大学学报(自然科学), 2021, 35(8), 90. 71 Wu W G. Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology, 2015, 47(7), 1(in Chinese). 吴伟国. 哈尔滨工业大学学报, 2015, 47(7), 1. 72 Cai H G. Journal of Integration Technology, 2015(5), 4(in Chinese). 蔡鹤皋. 集成技术, 2015(5), 4. 73 Hammock M L, Chortos A, Tee B C K, et al. Advanced Materials, 2013, 25, 5997. 74 Xu S, Zhang Y, Jia L, et al. Science, 2014, 344, 70. 75 Zhao J. Aeronautical Manufacturing Technology, 2012(12), 19(in Chinese). 赵杰. 航空制造技术, 2012(12), 19. 76 Liu X J, Yu J J, Wang G B, et al. Bulletin of National Science Foundation of China, 2016, 30(5), 7(in Chinese). 刘辛军, 于靖军, 王国彪, 等. 中国科学基金, 2016, 30(5), 7. 77 Wang T M, Chen D S, Tao Y, et al. Science & Technology Review, 2015, 33(21), 16(in Chinese). 王田苗, 陈殿生, 陶永, 等. 科技导报, 2015, 33(21), 16. 78 Qiao H, Yin P J, Li R, et al. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2015, 30(6), 10(in Chinese). 乔红, 尹沛劼, 李睿, 等. 中国科学院院刊, 2015, 30(6), 10. 79 Qu D K. Science & Technology Association Forum, 2015( 12), 3(in Chinese). 曲道奎. 科协论坛, 2015(12), 3. 80 Muth J T, Vogt D M, Truby R L, et al. Advanced Materials, 2014, 26, 6307. 81 Pu J, Li L J, Takenobu T. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2014, 16, 14996. 82 Zucca A, Yamagishi K, Fujie T, et al. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2015, 3, 6539. 83 Xu F, Zhu Y. Advanced Materials, 2012, 24, 5117. 84 Chang H, Kim S, Jin S, et al. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2018, 10, 1067. 85 Li Y Q, Zhu W B, Yu X G, et al. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2016, 8, 33189.