Recent Advances in Wearable Tactile Sensors Based on Electrospun Nanofiber Platform

Abstract

Abstract Wearable electronics have triggered the great development of flexible tactile sensors for promising applications such as healthcare monitoring, motion detection, and human‐machine interaction. However, most of the flexible sensors are constructed on compact and airtight polymer films with inferior flexibility and no breathability, hindering the wearability and comfortability for long‐time continuous operation usage. To address such challenges, flexible sensors based on the electrospun polymer platform with comprehensive advantages of ultrathin thickness, superior flexibility, excellent stretchability, high porosity, low density, and surface functionality are emerging. It has become a hot research direction, and considerable progress has been made. Therefore, it is necessary to timely review the latest findings on the rapidly developing electrospun nanofiber‐based tactile sensors. Firstly, the principle of the electrospinning technique, the factors affecting the nanofiber morphology, and the engineering of the nanofibers are briefly introduced, and the key material and structural factors affecting the sensing performance are analyzed. Secondly, representative work on the electrospun nanofiber‐based tactile sensors is discussed in detail according to the sensing mechanism. Thirdly, unique properties of electrospun nanofibers, such as superior flexibility, breathability, hydrophobicity, anti‐bacterial, and self‐cleaning, are highlighted. Finally, the remaining challenges and future development trends are outlined.

Keywords

• electrospun nanofibers
• flexible sensors
• permeable
• stretchable
• tactile sensors
• wearable electronics