Engineers at MIPT have developed innovative flexible sensors that simultaneously determine pressure and temperature. They have excellent biocompatibility. They can be used in the creation of modern wearable devices for health monitoring, intelligent prostheses, and flexible electronics.
We have developed original approaches to analyzing electrical signals in order to independently obtain the response of a flexible sensor to changes in temperature and pressure over a fairly wide range. In addition, its synthesis is easy to manufacture and easily scalable, which gives it an advantage over competitors.
The vast majority of flexible sensors record only one indicator — pressure or temperature — due to technological difficulties and insufficient accuracy.
Russian specialists have overcome these limitations by developing a sensor based on vertical zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocrystals with piezoelectric characteristics and increased responsiveness to heat. This makes it possible to simultaneously measure pressure and temperature.
The sensors react differently to pressure and heat: under pressure, their resistance decreases and capacitance increases, while with increasing temperature, both indicators decrease. The new technology surpasses analogues based on other forms of zinc oxide in sensitivity by 2–3 times.
The operating range of the sensors covers biological loads from light touch to arterial pressure and powerful compression, which is ideal for "electronic skin", prostheses, and implants. Due to the simplicity of manufacturing, the transition to commercial production is expected in the near future.
