(633b) From Carbon Nanomaterials-Based Ultrathin Films to Electronic Skins

Flexible electronics are an exciting frontier for the next generation devices in both sensing and actuator. Flexible pressure/strain sensors and artificial electronic-skins (E-skins) have attracted increasing massive attention due to their unique advantages in specific potential applications such as sensitive tactile information for future robotic systems minimally invasive surgery and prosthetics. How to improve their flexibility sensitivity transmittance integration and stability is still a key problem for next generation of E-skins.

Free-standing ultrathin films of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) and reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) are promising nanomaterials to meet those needs. Here we present our recent works on the formation of SWNTs and rGO ultrathin films and their potential application in artificial E-skins. By utilizing the high conductivity of SWNTs/rGO network and natural patterned structures on the surface of intertextures of silk, we developed a facile and low-cost method for fabricating patterned PDMS conducting films with uniform microstructured patterns and high transmittance, then constructed the flexible pressure sensor, and demonstrated that it has ultra-sensitivity (detection limit as low as 0.2 Pa) and high stability for detection of super-slight forces. Furthermore we demonstrate that the application of E-skins in monitoring human physiological signals which can broaden their potential applications for diagnosis of diseases and health assessment.