Extremely durable electrical impedance tomography-based soft and ultrathin wearable e-skin for three-dimensional tactile interfaces

Sci Adv. 2024 Sep 20;10(38):eadr1099. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adr1099. Epub 2024 Sep 20.

Abstract

In the rapidly evolving field of human-machine interfaces (HMIs), high-resolution wearable electronic skin (e-skin) is essential for user interaction. However, traditional array-structured tactile interfaces require increased number of interconnects, while soft material-based computational methods have limited functionalities. Here, we introduce a thin and soft e-skin for tactile interfaces, offering high mapping capabilities through electrical impedance tomography (EIT). We employed an organic/inorganic hybrid structure with simple, cost-effective fabrication processes, ensuring flexibility and stability. The conductive and stretchable sensing domain includes a micropatterned multiwall carbon nanotube and elastomer composite. The skin-like tactile interface effectively detects pressure-induced conductivity changes, offering superior spatiotemporal resolution with fewer interconnects (pixel/interconnects >57). This EIT-based tactile interface discerns external pressures to a submillimeter degree and vertical deformations of a few hundred micrometers. It sustains stable functions under external damage or environmental changes, confirming its suitability for persistent wearable use. We demonstrate practical applications in real-time HMIs: handwriting recognition and drone control.

MeSH terms

  • Electric Impedance*
  • Humans
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry
  • Skin
  • Tomography* / instrumentation
  • Tomography* / methods
  • Touch* / physiology
  • Wearable Electronic Devices*

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon