As embodied intelligence emerges, flexible electronics are attracting attention in wearable technology, healthcare, robotics, and human-machine interfaces. Electronic skins (e-skins) are vital for safe, efficient interaction, yet the structural and wiring complexity of conventional sensor arrays hinders scalability. Inspired by fish skin, we propose an origami-with-scale-based capacitive electronic skin that covers a large area (60000 mm2) and enables super-resolution tactile sensing by harnessing origami’s deformation transmission. Interdigital electrodes provide shear-force sensing, while a proximity-sensing layer detects approaching conductive objects, providing collision protection for humans. Additionally, machine learning algorithms are employed to enhance sensing accuracy, achieving a super-resolution (SR) factor of 241 with average localization and force magnitude estimation error of less than 3.5 mm and 0.04 N, respectively. By integrating theoretical models and machine learning algorithms, multi-point touch for non-adjacent loads was also realized. This design delivers a compact, multifunctional solution for large-area, super-resolution tactile sensing, advancing safe, immersive human-machine interaction and embodied intelligence.
{"title":"A bio-inspired origami capacitive robotic e-skin with multimodal sensing capabilities","authors":"Qian Xu, Boyang Zhang, Yik Kin Cheung, Zhiwei Yang, Rui Jiao, Shuhuai Yao, Wei Hong, Hongyu Yu","doi":"10.1038/s41528-026-00563-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-026-00563-3","url":null,"abstract":"As embodied intelligence emerges, flexible electronics are attracting attention in wearable technology, healthcare, robotics, and human-machine interfaces. Electronic skins (e-skins) are vital for safe, efficient interaction, yet the structural and wiring complexity of conventional sensor arrays hinders scalability. Inspired by fish skin, we propose an origami-with-scale-based capacitive electronic skin that covers a large area (60000 mm2) and enables super-resolution tactile sensing by harnessing origami’s deformation transmission. Interdigital electrodes provide shear-force sensing, while a proximity-sensing layer detects approaching conductive objects, providing collision protection for humans. Additionally, machine learning algorithms are employed to enhance sensing accuracy, achieving a super-resolution (SR) factor of 241 with average localization and force magnitude estimation error of less than 3.5 mm and 0.04 N, respectively. By integrating theoretical models and machine learning algorithms, multi-point touch for non-adjacent loads was also realized. This design delivers a compact, multifunctional solution for large-area, super-resolution tactile sensing, advancing safe, immersive human-machine interaction and embodied intelligence.","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147506148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Smart wearable and implantable biosensors enable continuous, real-time monitoring of biophysical and biochemical signals for personalized and preventive healthcare. Advances in flexible, stretchable, and biocompatible materials ensure long-term comfort and seamless body integration, while multimodal and multi-analyte sensing improves robustness. AI enhances signal processing and predictive insights, yet challenges remain in motion artifacts, energy autonomy, data privacy, and clinical interpretability. This review summarizes materials, device architectures, and AI-assisted strategies applications.
{"title":"Smart wearable and implantable biosensors for continuous health monitoring: materials, biocompatibility, and AI integration","authors":"Thirumalaisamy Suryaprabha, Chunghyeon Choi, Yanfang Wu, Liyang Liu, Byungil Hwang","doi":"10.1038/s41528-026-00560-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-026-00560-6","url":null,"abstract":"Smart wearable and implantable biosensors enable continuous, real-time monitoring of biophysical and biochemical signals for personalized and preventive healthcare. Advances in flexible, stretchable, and biocompatible materials ensure long-term comfort and seamless body integration, while multimodal and multi-analyte sensing improves robustness. AI enhances signal processing and predictive insights, yet challenges remain in motion artifacts, energy autonomy, data privacy, and clinical interpretability. This review summarizes materials, device architectures, and AI-assisted strategies applications.","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147507062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Seals exhibit exceptional ability to navigate and detect underwater prey with high precision, even in complete darkness using their ultra-sensitive whiskers. These whiskers combine two key adaptations: undulatory morphology, which suppresses self-induced vibrations and rhythmic whisking, which actively probes surrounding water. Most previous studies of whisker-based hydrodynamic sensing focused on static artificial whiskers, leaving the functional role of whisking largely unexplored. We show that undulated harbor seal whiskers exhibit threefold lower vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) and over fiftyfold higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than California sea lion whiskers. To study the functional role of whisking in the sensing performance of the whiskers, an artificial muscle comprised of an electrohydraulic soft actuator was integrated at the base of a natural whisker, allowing precise stiffness control and rhythmic whisking. Finally, we developed a bionic seal muzzle with 30 natural whiskers per side, capable of whisking at variable angles and frequencies, closely mimicking natural dynamics. Our results indicate that undulatory morphology and active whisker protraction are essential for seals to achieve sufficiently high SNR to track prey trails.
{"title":"Soft bionic actuation explains the functional role of whisking in seal whisker sensing","authors":"Chinmay Gupta, Anastasiia O. Krushynska, Bayu Jayawardhana, Liangliang Cheng, Ajay Giri Prakash Kottapalli","doi":"10.1038/s41528-026-00565-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-026-00565-1","url":null,"abstract":"Seals exhibit exceptional ability to navigate and detect underwater prey with high precision, even in complete darkness using their ultra-sensitive whiskers. These whiskers combine two key adaptations: undulatory morphology, which suppresses self-induced vibrations and rhythmic whisking, which actively probes surrounding water. Most previous studies of whisker-based hydrodynamic sensing focused on static artificial whiskers, leaving the functional role of whisking largely unexplored. We show that undulated harbor seal whiskers exhibit threefold lower vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) and over fiftyfold higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than California sea lion whiskers. To study the functional role of whisking in the sensing performance of the whiskers, an artificial muscle comprised of an electrohydraulic soft actuator was integrated at the base of a natural whisker, allowing precise stiffness control and rhythmic whisking. Finally, we developed a bionic seal muzzle with 30 natural whiskers per side, capable of whisking at variable angles and frequencies, closely mimicking natural dynamics. Our results indicate that undulatory morphology and active whisker protraction are essential for seals to achieve sufficiently high SNR to track prey trails.","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"55 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147496849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-16DOI: 10.1038/s41528-026-00562-4
Sung-Geun Choi, Se-Hun Kang, Soo-Hwan Lee, Geonjin Shin, Yu-Lim Lee, Aejin Kim, Joo-Hyeon Park, Sung-Woo Kim, Hyojin Lee, Seung-Kyun Kang
Iontophoretic transdermal patches enable controllable and noninvasive drug delivery but face a persistent trade-off among user-adaptive interaction, architectural simplicity, and sustainability. Simpler systems favor uniform operation, whereas feedback-enabled designs require additional electronics, increasing complexity, bulk, and environmental burden. Here, we present a self-powered, fully eco-degradable iontophoretic patch integrated with an electrochromic module, which electrochemically unifies drug delivery and user-facing indication within a single synchronized loop. Galvanic iontophoresis electrodes simultaneously drive iontophoretic transport with ionic current and actuate an on-patch electrochromic gauge with electrical current, converting cumulative charge-correlated dose into an electrochromic reaction propagation-based indication. This material–architecture co-design, based on thin, soft, and eco-degradable materials, enables compact and flexible patch-level implementation with system-level eco-degradability after use. Ex vivo porcine skin studies show a linear correlation between electrochromic propagation distance and delivered dose, and a psoriasis mouse model confirms therapeutic delivery with skin-compatible operation.
{"title":"Electrochemically synchronized, self-indicating iontophoretic patch with fully eco-degradable and self-powered system","authors":"Sung-Geun Choi, Se-Hun Kang, Soo-Hwan Lee, Geonjin Shin, Yu-Lim Lee, Aejin Kim, Joo-Hyeon Park, Sung-Woo Kim, Hyojin Lee, Seung-Kyun Kang","doi":"10.1038/s41528-026-00562-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-026-00562-4","url":null,"abstract":"Iontophoretic transdermal patches enable controllable and noninvasive drug delivery but face a persistent trade-off among user-adaptive interaction, architectural simplicity, and sustainability. Simpler systems favor uniform operation, whereas feedback-enabled designs require additional electronics, increasing complexity, bulk, and environmental burden. Here, we present a self-powered, fully eco-degradable iontophoretic patch integrated with an electrochromic module, which electrochemically unifies drug delivery and user-facing indication within a single synchronized loop. Galvanic iontophoresis electrodes simultaneously drive iontophoretic transport with ionic current and actuate an on-patch electrochromic gauge with electrical current, converting cumulative charge-correlated dose into an electrochromic reaction propagation-based indication. This material–architecture co-design, based on thin, soft, and eco-degradable materials, enables compact and flexible patch-level implementation with system-level eco-degradability after use. Ex vivo porcine skin studies show a linear correlation between electrochromic propagation distance and delivered dose, and a psoriasis mouse model confirms therapeutic delivery with skin-compatible operation.","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147464997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Flexible neuromorphic devices exhibit substantial promise for applications in next-generation intelligent human-machine interaction systems. While, the primary hurdle for flexible neuromorphic devices lies in functional impairment arising from mechanical damage. Here, earthworm-inspired self-revival iontronic neuromorphic devices are fabricated with a decentralized architecture by polymer ion gel as an ion transport network. In the integrated device, a discrete hemispheric array structure is engineered to arrest crack propagation by physical isolation. Furthermore, the devices exhibit self-revival capacity after damage due to the rapidly-formed dynamic chemical bonds and transferable properties of independent hemispheric units. Notably, the iontronic neuromorphic devices are applied for the motion-cognition nerve system, achieving a human body movement tracking accuracy rate of 98%. Even when damaged, the system maintains a 96% tracking accuracy rate after self-revival. This work contributes to the design of novel neuromorphic devices and demonstrates significant potential for revolutionizing fields such as prosthetics, rehabilitation, and interactive robotics.
{"title":"Self-revival iontronic neuromorphic devices for robust human-machine interaction","authors":"Yanfei Li, Jiayi Chen, Shilin Tang, Chenxi Zhu, Zhanpeng Hong, Xuefeng Lin, Xiang He, Jianyu Ming, Ning Liu, Linghai Xie, Haifeng Ling","doi":"10.1038/s41528-026-00566-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-026-00566-0","url":null,"abstract":"Flexible neuromorphic devices exhibit substantial promise for applications in next-generation intelligent human-machine interaction systems. While, the primary hurdle for flexible neuromorphic devices lies in functional impairment arising from mechanical damage. Here, earthworm-inspired self-revival iontronic neuromorphic devices are fabricated with a decentralized architecture by polymer ion gel as an ion transport network. In the integrated device, a discrete hemispheric array structure is engineered to arrest crack propagation by physical isolation. Furthermore, the devices exhibit self-revival capacity after damage due to the rapidly-formed dynamic chemical bonds and transferable properties of independent hemispheric units. Notably, the iontronic neuromorphic devices are applied for the motion-cognition nerve system, achieving a human body movement tracking accuracy rate of 98%. Even when damaged, the system maintains a 96% tracking accuracy rate after self-revival. This work contributes to the design of novel neuromorphic devices and demonstrates significant potential for revolutionizing fields such as prosthetics, rehabilitation, and interactive robotics.","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147464944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Robotic intelligence has advanced greatly in the past decade. Nevertheless, integrating embodied intelligent and responsive behavior into soft robotic systems remains challenging because it typically requires bulky hardware for environmental feedback and decision-making. While soft materials like poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) offer potential for simplified material-based actuation through temperature-responsive motion, their slow response and high energy demands limit their use in closed-loop control systems. To overcome this limitation, we present soft PNIPAM-based actuators with integrated hydrogel-based Joule heating, enabling localized actuation without significantly altering the temperature within 1 cm of the actuator. The potential of the material is demonstrated by processing it into a soft gripper that can lift up to three-fold its own weight with integrated capability to adjust its actuation in response to the gripped object. This design is well-suited for energy-efficient manipulation and sorting of delicate items, such as those found in automated packaging systems.
{"title":"Programmable somatosensory soft robots","authors":"Antonia Georgopoulou, Malena Aguiriano Calvo, Lorenzo Lucherini, Sudong Lee, Josie Hughes, Esther Amstad","doi":"10.1038/s41528-026-00558-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-026-00558-0","url":null,"abstract":"Robotic intelligence has advanced greatly in the past decade. Nevertheless, integrating embodied intelligent and responsive behavior into soft robotic systems remains challenging because it typically requires bulky hardware for environmental feedback and decision-making. While soft materials like poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) offer potential for simplified material-based actuation through temperature-responsive motion, their slow response and high energy demands limit their use in closed-loop control systems. To overcome this limitation, we present soft PNIPAM-based actuators with integrated hydrogel-based Joule heating, enabling localized actuation without significantly altering the temperature within 1 cm of the actuator. The potential of the material is demonstrated by processing it into a soft gripper that can lift up to three-fold its own weight with integrated capability to adjust its actuation in response to the gripped object. This design is well-suited for energy-efficient manipulation and sorting of delicate items, such as those found in automated packaging systems.","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147371115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-04DOI: 10.1038/s41528-026-00557-1
Sunguk Hong, Sungah Pak, Mingeun Cho, Matthew Ko, Seongjae Lee, Hyebin Kim, Minhye Choo, Wonok Kang, Hyeok Jae Mun, Jiyoon Park, Yong Joo Ahn, Sung-Min Park
Neural interfaces for monitoring and modulating spinal nerve activity are increasingly being designed to be flexible and stretchable to enhance their biomechanical compatibility and integration. However, excessive flexibility introduces practical limitations such as difficulty in insertion into narrow spinal spaces and long-term electrical instability, hindering real-world applications. In this study, we developed a spinal nerve interface by incorporating a liquid-metal conductor and dynamic stiffness-based variable-compliance structure, which can address the challenges of current flexible neural interface technologies. During insertion, the dynamic stiffness enhancer minimizes unintended buckling and ensures minimally invasive implantation into the intended target. The proximity of the proposed device to the spinal cord increases as it flexes automatically and rapidly in a humid environment. The liquid-metal conductor maintained stable electrical properties in freely moving rats, ensuring reliable and sustained functionality. This study lays the foundation for practical, fully implantable spinal bioelectronics designed with a focus on ease of implantation and long-term functionality.
{"title":"Unidirectional dynamic stiffness modulation enables easily insertable and conformally attachable spinal bioelectronic device","authors":"Sunguk Hong, Sungah Pak, Mingeun Cho, Matthew Ko, Seongjae Lee, Hyebin Kim, Minhye Choo, Wonok Kang, Hyeok Jae Mun, Jiyoon Park, Yong Joo Ahn, Sung-Min Park","doi":"10.1038/s41528-026-00557-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-026-00557-1","url":null,"abstract":"Neural interfaces for monitoring and modulating spinal nerve activity are increasingly being designed to be flexible and stretchable to enhance their biomechanical compatibility and integration. However, excessive flexibility introduces practical limitations such as difficulty in insertion into narrow spinal spaces and long-term electrical instability, hindering real-world applications. In this study, we developed a spinal nerve interface by incorporating a liquid-metal conductor and dynamic stiffness-based variable-compliance structure, which can address the challenges of current flexible neural interface technologies. During insertion, the dynamic stiffness enhancer minimizes unintended buckling and ensures minimally invasive implantation into the intended target. The proximity of the proposed device to the spinal cord increases as it flexes automatically and rapidly in a humid environment. The liquid-metal conductor maintained stable electrical properties in freely moving rats, ensuring reliable and sustained functionality. This study lays the foundation for practical, fully implantable spinal bioelectronics designed with a focus on ease of implantation and long-term functionality.","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"43 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147350857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-02DOI: 10.1038/s41528-026-00550-8
Valentina Antonaci, Gaia de Marzo, Laura Blasi, Virgilio Brunetti, Enrico Binetti, Luca Fachechi, Sergio Marras, Antonio Qualtieri, Francesco Rizzi, Massimo De Vittorio
Recently, research has increasingly focused on eco-friendly innovations in sensor and actuator technologies, emphasising the importance of using safe, high-performance, environmentally sustainable, flexible and biocompatible materials in biomedical devices. Our study explores the potential of a composite made of cellulose and chitosan, in developing biodegradable piezoelectric ultrasound transducers. As the piezoelectric technology becomes more common in flexible biomedical devices, the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional synthetic and petroleum-based polymers grows more urgent. The developed biodegradable piezoelectric composites offer a chance to create environmentally friendly solutions that are safe for biological tissues and to support a plastic-free future. By integrating Sub-spherical piezoelectric cellulose nanocrystals CNCs into a chitosan matrix, we significantly improve the piezoelectric properties of flexible thin films. The resulting Chitosan/CNC composite exhibits clear biodegradation under enzymatic hydrolysis conditions and shows a d₃₃ value of 30 pC/N comparable to synthetic polymers like polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). This enables these films to be processed to produce effective ultrasound transducers, making them promising for various biomedical applications, including non-invasive imaging and wearable health monitoring. These developments represent a significant step toward sustainable, high-performance piezoelectric devices that fulfil the growing needs of next-generation medical technologies.
{"title":"Biodegradable chitosan-cellulose and sub-spherical nanocrystals composite piezoelectric thin film","authors":"Valentina Antonaci, Gaia de Marzo, Laura Blasi, Virgilio Brunetti, Enrico Binetti, Luca Fachechi, Sergio Marras, Antonio Qualtieri, Francesco Rizzi, Massimo De Vittorio","doi":"10.1038/s41528-026-00550-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-026-00550-8","url":null,"abstract":"Recently, research has increasingly focused on eco-friendly innovations in sensor and actuator technologies, emphasising the importance of using safe, high-performance, environmentally sustainable, flexible and biocompatible materials in biomedical devices. Our study explores the potential of a composite made of cellulose and chitosan, in developing biodegradable piezoelectric ultrasound transducers. As the piezoelectric technology becomes more common in flexible biomedical devices, the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional synthetic and petroleum-based polymers grows more urgent. The developed biodegradable piezoelectric composites offer a chance to create environmentally friendly solutions that are safe for biological tissues and to support a plastic-free future. By integrating Sub-spherical piezoelectric cellulose nanocrystals CNCs into a chitosan matrix, we significantly improve the piezoelectric properties of flexible thin films. The resulting Chitosan/CNC composite exhibits clear biodegradation under enzymatic hydrolysis conditions and shows a d₃₃ value of 30 pC/N comparable to synthetic polymers like polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). This enables these films to be processed to produce effective ultrasound transducers, making them promising for various biomedical applications, including non-invasive imaging and wearable health monitoring. These developments represent a significant step toward sustainable, high-performance piezoelectric devices that fulfil the growing needs of next-generation medical technologies.","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"245 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147350540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Global disasters are occurring with increasing frequency, and the stable acquisition of physiological electrical signals from injured individuals is crucial in emergency rescue operations. Conventional patch electrodes are susceptible to signal distortion due to skin contamination and body movement, and their poor breathability often causes discomfort, making them inadequate for rescue scenarios. This study proposes a highly robust surface electrode based on semi-liquid metal (SLM) fibers. The electrode employs pre-stretched elastic fibers as the substrate, coated with SLM to achieve high electrical conductivity, and utilizes wrapping-induced constriction force to enhance fixation. The SLM fiber electrode is not affected by skin contaminants and can be tightly wrapped around multiple limb parts. The wrapped structure of the fiber electrode provides high breathability, preventing skin irritation, and allows rapid and efficient deployment. In practical applications, this SLM fiber electrode facilitates the reliable acquisition of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, enabling the monitoring in emergency situations as well as continuous and comfortable ECG monitoring after surgery, and provides an innovative solution for emergency medical monitoring.
{"title":"Highly robust ECG electrodes constructed from semi-liquid metal fibers for reliable emergency rescue monitoring","authors":"Xiaotong Liu, Hui Xu, Linglong Chen, Xin Lyu, Xiaoshuai Wang, Yanqing Liu, Haojun Fan, Rui Guo","doi":"10.1038/s41528-026-00556-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-026-00556-2","url":null,"abstract":"Global disasters are occurring with increasing frequency, and the stable acquisition of physiological electrical signals from injured individuals is crucial in emergency rescue operations. Conventional patch electrodes are susceptible to signal distortion due to skin contamination and body movement, and their poor breathability often causes discomfort, making them inadequate for rescue scenarios. This study proposes a highly robust surface electrode based on semi-liquid metal (SLM) fibers. The electrode employs pre-stretched elastic fibers as the substrate, coated with SLM to achieve high electrical conductivity, and utilizes wrapping-induced constriction force to enhance fixation. The SLM fiber electrode is not affected by skin contaminants and can be tightly wrapped around multiple limb parts. The wrapped structure of the fiber electrode provides high breathability, preventing skin irritation, and allows rapid and efficient deployment. In practical applications, this SLM fiber electrode facilitates the reliable acquisition of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, enabling the monitoring in emergency situations as well as continuous and comfortable ECG monitoring after surgery, and provides an innovative solution for emergency medical monitoring.","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"100 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147350539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-28DOI: 10.1038/s41528-026-00552-6
Ke Zhang, Jiahao Yang, Yu Huang, Lei Chen, Sixian Wang, Chengcheng Jing, Zhiqiang Yu, Qing Shi, Toshio Fukuda
Stretchable electronic arrays typically use island-bridge designs but struggle to integrate thin-film functional materials due to low mechanical strength and interfacial stress mismatch. Here, we propose a stress transform structure (STS) that can be used to build stress-induced non-coplanar (SINC) island-bridge structured arrays based on thin-film functional elements, for the integration of planar stretchable and three-dimensional (3D) curvy electronics. STS can transform unbearable tensile strain (5–50%), into acceptable bending strain (<1%) for thin-film materials, achieving a notable reduction in strain magnitude and alleviating interfacial stress mismatch. To illustrate the capabilities of the design, we use STS to create various perovskite thin-film arrays with stretchability, including planar multiaxial stretchable photodetector (PD) arrays and 3D curvy artificial compound eye electronics with 185 pixels. All these devices exhibit good and stable photoresponse under large stretching stresses and curved assembly stresses, demonstrating that STS represents an effective strategy for planar/3D optoelectronics integration and mechanical performance enhancement.
{"title":"Strain-transformative integration of perovskite thin-film optoelectronics for in-plane multiaxial stretchable and 3D curvy artificial compound eye arrays","authors":"Ke Zhang, Jiahao Yang, Yu Huang, Lei Chen, Sixian Wang, Chengcheng Jing, Zhiqiang Yu, Qing Shi, Toshio Fukuda","doi":"10.1038/s41528-026-00552-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-026-00552-6","url":null,"abstract":"Stretchable electronic arrays typically use island-bridge designs but struggle to integrate thin-film functional materials due to low mechanical strength and interfacial stress mismatch. Here, we propose a stress transform structure (STS) that can be used to build stress-induced non-coplanar (SINC) island-bridge structured arrays based on thin-film functional elements, for the integration of planar stretchable and three-dimensional (3D) curvy electronics. STS can transform unbearable tensile strain (5–50%), into acceptable bending strain (<1%) for thin-film materials, achieving a notable reduction in strain magnitude and alleviating interfacial stress mismatch. To illustrate the capabilities of the design, we use STS to create various perovskite thin-film arrays with stretchability, including planar multiaxial stretchable photodetector (PD) arrays and 3D curvy artificial compound eye electronics with 185 pixels. All these devices exhibit good and stable photoresponse under large stretching stresses and curved assembly stresses, demonstrating that STS represents an effective strategy for planar/3D optoelectronics integration and mechanical performance enhancement.","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147320216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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