Ultrasensitive Wearable Device Based on Biomimetic Microstructure for Human Physiological Activity Monitoring.

Abstract

Ultrasensitive flexible pressure sensors are crucial for health monitoring and intelligent medical devices, but traditional methods to improve sensitivity, such as lithography and 3D printing, are costly and impractical for mass production. In this study, we present a wearable pressure sensor inspired by butterfly wings microstructure, achieving an exceptional sensitivity of 12.99 kPa-1. Specifically, a simple and cost-effective fabrication method was developed for creating a tile-like biomimetic microstructure for the pressure sensor, utilizing a template derived from the microstructure of butterfly wings. Finite element analysis (FEA) simulations demonstrate that the tile-like biomimetic microstructure, inspired by butterfly wings, minimizes the initial contact area between the sensitive layer and the bottom electrode, thereby significantly amplifying the contact area variation rate under external stimuli and enhancing sensor sensitivity. Building upon this innovation, we fabricate a wireless wearable device using the developed flexible pressure sensor. The device exhibits excellent performance in monitoring various human physiological activities, featuring a wireless real-time monitoring (WRM) system that addresses challenges in the power supply and data transmission. Our design streamlines the manufacturing process of future ultrasensitive wearable devices at lower costs, while facilitating wireless power supply for diverse applications.