Expanding Laser-Induced Graphene and Polydimethylsiloxane Microstructure Flexible Sensor: Innovative Design and Application Research Inspired by Fingerprint

Abstract

In recent years, wearable flexible sensors have garnered significant attention for their potential in monitoring human physiological signals. Current research focuses on flexible sensors with a wide linear range, high sensitivity, and excellent reliability. Micronanostructures have been introduced to balance these three features to some extent. Inspired by the micronanostructures of human fingerprints, we propose a fingerprint-like flexible sensor that combines polydimethylsiloxane with a grating structure and laser-induced graphene. This fingerprint-like flexible sensor exhibits several desirable characteristics: a wider linear range (0–180°), faster response time (0.3 s), higher sensitivity (688.5 kPa^–1), and excellent reliability (>10,000 cycles). These features make fingerprint-like flexible sensors particularly suitable for detecting various human physiological signals, including finger flexion, elbow flexion, finger pressure, and pulse. Therefore, there is considerable potential for integrating multiple fingerprint-like sensors into human physiological signal monitoring applications. This approach offers a promising direction for the future development of wearable flexible sensors.