Advancements in flexible tactile sensors with built-in thermal control capability

Abstract

With the rapid development of wearable electronics, flexible sensors with high sensitivity and stability are in high pursuit. During long-term wearable sensing usage, effective heat dissipation and preservation between the sensor and the covered skin to maintain an appropriate temperature through thermal management play a great role in both the stable electrical signal acquisition of the sensor and the comfort user experience of the wear, especially in specific conditions of extreme warm and cold. However, most existing flexible tactile sensors are constructed on impermeable membrane substrates, which severely blocks the normal micro-circulation between the covered skin and the external environment, inevitably leading to sensor malfunction and the wearer’s discomfort. As a result, a growing focus has been on developing flexible tactile sensors built on permeable fabric substrates, which incorporate thermal management capabilities to maintain a stable temperature, ensuring both reliable sensing and comfortable wear. This paper aims to provide a timely review of the latest progress in flexible tactile sensors with built-in thermal control capability, focusing on the working mechanism, functional materials, and device structures of tactile sensing, thermal management, and their combination. The representative research works will be introduced and the challenges and development trends will be discussed.