Ultrawide Sensing Range and High-Sensitivity Capacitive Pressure Sensor Based on Skeleton Dilution Strategies for Human Motion and Correction of Poor Body Posture
Ying Li, Xi Wang, Ying Wang, Xuanmo Zhao, Kedi Chen, Weichen Huang, Fanchen Luo, Yafei Qin
Abstract
Flexible pressure sensors have garnered significant attention in wearable electronics and human–machine interaction due to their biocompatibility and adaptability. However, these sensors encounter challenges in achieving high sensitivity and a wide detection range while maintaining simple and inexpensive fabrication methods. In this study, we propose a skeletal dilution strategy to fabricate the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foam with a porous structure to serve as the dielectric layer for the flexible capacitive pressure sensor (CPS). This flexible CPS exhibits a measurement range of 0–300 kPa and a detection limit of 42 Pa and can operate successfully for 1000 cycles. The sensor’s sensitivity has been measured at 0.67 kPa−1 in the range of 0–1 kPa and 0.18 kPa−1 in the range of 0–50 kPa. We also performed tests on various activities, such as real-time monitoring of drinking, grasping, breathing, surface changes, differences in shoulder height, and hunchbacks, to explore the potential applications of the sensor. Based on the effective feedback observed in the test results and the clear differentiation, this sensor shows great potential for research in the integration of wearable electronic devices.