{"title":"Locomotion control of Cyborg insects by using ultra-thin, self-adhesive electrode film on abdominal surface","authors":"Shumpei Katayama, Keigo Ando, Sunghoon Lee, Zhi Jiang, Xiaodong Chen, Tomoyuki Yokota, Hirotaka Sato, Shinjiro Umezu, Kenjiro Fukuda, Takao Someya","doi":"10.1038/s41528-025-00387-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00387-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Cyborg insects are living organisms combined with artificial systems, allowing flexible behavioral control while preserving biological functions. Conventional control methods often electrically stimulate sensory organs like antennae and cerci but these invasive methods can impair vital functions. This study shows a minimally invasive approach using flexible, ultra-thin electrodes on the cockroach’s abdomen, avoiding contact with primary sensory organs. Using liquid evaporation for film adhesion provides a biocompatible process with excellent adhesive strength and electrical durability. Body surface stimulating component structures formed by utilizing an insect’s natural movement showed higher stability than conventional methods. These enable effective control of both turning and straight-line movements. This minimally invasive method maintains the insect’s natural behavior while enhancing cyborg functionality, extending the potential applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143607798","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}
Ji Yoon Park, Jun Hyuk Shin, In Pyo Hong, Seungmin Nam, Sang Hyun Han, Su Seok Choi
{"title":"Dynamic bendable display with sound integration using asymmetric strain control of actuators with flexible OLED","authors":"Ji Yoon Park, Jun Hyuk Shin, In Pyo Hong, Seungmin Nam, Sang Hyun Han, Su Seok Choi","doi":"10.1038/s41528-025-00396-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00396-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Flexible electronics demand multifunctional human-machine interfaces (HMIs) and organic user interfaces (OUIs). Existing deformable displays often rely on mechanical wires or hinges, limiting their thinness and flexibility. Incorporating sound features typically requires extra components, complicating design. In this study, we developed a lightweight, multifunctional display with a multi-shape bendable design and integrated sound capabilities. Using asymmetrical strain engineering on poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), we achieved bidirectional and complex deformations through electrical signals, eliminating the need for mechanical hinges. The PVDF actuator enables simultaneous sound emission and intricate shape transformations through rapid actuation and vibration. This design maintains the thinness and flexibility of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology. By controlling strain through PVDF polarization and applied electric field, we realized varied shape transformations and integrated these functions into a practical 6-inch OLED display. This approach enhances the functionality of flexible displays, expanding possibilities for future applications in flexible electronics.</p>","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143599061","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}
Huanhuan Liu, Yuyuan Shi, You Pan, Zhaohui Wang, Bingjie Wang
{"title":"Sensory interactive fibers and textiles","authors":"Huanhuan Liu, Yuyuan Shi, You Pan, Zhaohui Wang, Bingjie Wang","doi":"10.1038/s41528-025-00398-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00398-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Electronic textiles (e-textiles) have gradually emerged as a burgeoning industry, with the advancement of flexible electronic technology and the growing demand for personalization, convenience, and comfort. As the typical representative, sensory interactive e-textiles, integrated with visual, auditory, tactile, and other sensory experiences, have garnered significant attention in the next generation of wearable devices due to their outstanding performance and unique immersive interactive experience. To promote the practical application and better development of sensory interactive e-textiles, this paper reviews the research status of sensory interactive fibers and textiles in recent years, providing a detailed overview of functional fibers capable of achieving sensory interactive functions, categorizes system integration technologies for sensory interactive e-textiles, and summarizes the application scenarios of sensory interactive e-textiles. This review further delineates current design paradigms of e-textiles and proposes a novel design paradigm applicable to sensory interactive e-textiles. Finally, we clarify the challenges facing the future development of sensory interactive e-textiles and suggest vital research directions.</p>","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143598770","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}
Xenofon Karagiorgis, Nitheesh M. Nair, Sofia Sandhu, Abhishek Singh Dahiya, Peter J. Skabara, Ravinder Dahiya
{"title":"Fully degradable, transparent, and flexible photodetectors using ZnO nanowires and PEDOT:PSS based nanofibres","authors":"Xenofon Karagiorgis, Nitheesh M. Nair, Sofia Sandhu, Abhishek Singh Dahiya, Peter J. Skabara, Ravinder Dahiya","doi":"10.1038/s41528-025-00385-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00385-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Transparent light detection devices are attractive for emerging see-through applications such as augmented reality, smart windows and optical communications using light fidelity (Li-Fi). Herein, we present flexible and transparent photodetectors (PDs) using conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS): Ag nanowires (NWs) based nanofibres and zinc oxide (ZnO) NWs on a transparent and degradable cellulose acetate (CA) substrate. The electrospun (PEDOT:PSS): Ag NW-based nanofibres exhibit a sheet resistance of 11 Ω/sq and optical transmittance of 79% (at 550 nm of wavelength). The PDs comprise of ZnO NWs, as photosensitive materials, bridging the electrode based on conductive nanofibres on CA substrate. The developed PDs exhibit high responsivity (1.10 ×10<sup>6</sup> A/W) and show excellent stability under dynamic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, and on both flat and curved surfaces. The eco-friendly PDs present here can degrade naturally at the end of life – thus offering an electronic waste-free solution for transparent electrodes and flexible optoelectronics applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143583103","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}
{"title":"Ion dipole interaction and directional alignment enabled high piezoelectric property polyvinylidene fluoride for flexible electronics","authors":"Dinku Hazarika, Jiaqi Lu, Jianhui Wu, Muhammad Naeem Shah, Jie Li, Kaihang Zhang, Liangquan Xu, Chuanrui Chen, Zhen Cao, Hao Jin, Shurong Dong, Yuhui Huang, Qilong Zhang, Yongjun Wu, Jikui Luo","doi":"10.1038/s41528-025-00393-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00393-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Organic piezoelectric materials have attracted significant interest for applications in sensing, energy harvesting, and flexible electronics. However, its piezoelectric properties are yet to be improved. This study introduces a facile strategy to fabricate homogenous and dense polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films with high piezoelectric performance via anhydrous CaCl<sub>2</sub> doping. The strong ion–dipole interaction between Ca<sup>2+</sup> and F atoms, along with directional dipole alignment under an electric field at elevated temperature, as verified by molecular dynamics simulations and material characterizations. This results in an impressive <i>β</i>-phase content of 92.78% and a piezoelectric coefficient of 29.26 pm/V. A piezoelectric device fabricated from this PVDF film delivers an output voltage exceeding 12 V under external pressure and maintains stability over 60,000 cycles. When integrated with an LC resonant circuit, it functions as a wireless sensor for real-time motion monitoring. This scalable approach significantly advances piezoelectric polymer performance for practical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143569578","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}
Shihang Wang, Jie Jin, Weijie Liu, Zheng Xu, Deqing Mei, Yancheng Wang
{"title":"A computational unfolding-based design method for three-dimensional conformal electronic skin with adjustable mounting strain","authors":"Shihang Wang, Jie Jin, Weijie Liu, Zheng Xu, Deqing Mei, Yancheng Wang","doi":"10.1038/s41528-025-00397-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00397-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Three-dimensional (3D) conformal electronic skins (E-skins) have been developed for matching the irregularly surfaces. The 3D conformal E-skins manufactured by direct-curved-surface or dimensional converting methods both need curved-surface calibration. With increase of units’ number and complication of mounting-surface morphology, curved-surface calibration becomes intricate. We report a universal cutting and distributing strategy for E-skins. The E-skin incorporates hierarchical and modular tactile sensors to match curvatures and sizes, thereby reducing mounting strain. This strategy enables curved-surface performance of 3D conformal E-skins to be characterized by flat-surface calibration results. An example is provided: Three-level sensors are utilized and calibrated on flat and curved surfaces. Performance variations reduce as sensor size decreases, and performance changes of level II and III sensing units are small after mounting. Their calibration results on curved surface are replaced by those on flat surface, proving low mounting strain facilitates 3D conformal E-skins to avoid complicated curved-surface calibration.</p>","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143575457","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}
Jin Shang, Mohsen Mohammadi, Jan Strandberg, Ioannis Petsagkourakis, Jessica Åhlin, Olle Hagel, Yangpeiqi Yi, Lars Herlogsson, Klas Tybrandt
{"title":"Fully screen printed stretchable liquid metal multilayer circuits using green solvents and scalable water-spray sintering","authors":"Jin Shang, Mohsen Mohammadi, Jan Strandberg, Ioannis Petsagkourakis, Jessica Åhlin, Olle Hagel, Yangpeiqi Yi, Lars Herlogsson, Klas Tybrandt","doi":"10.1038/s41528-025-00394-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00394-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Stretchable circuits based on liquid metals are promising for wearables but the lack of scalable processes for sintering of printed liquid metal dispersions constitutes a challenge for large-area and high-volume manufacturing. In this work, materials and methods for fully screen printed stretchable liquid metal multilayer circuits have been developed. The ink is based on liquid metal droplets dispersed in the green solvent propylene glycol using the harmless dispersion agent polyvinylpyrrolidone. The development of a scalable water-spray sintering method in combination with ink optimization yielded highly conductive prints of ≈7.3 × 10<sup>5 </sup>S/m. Interestingly, the printed conductors experienced a resistance increase of less than 10% during 50% strain cycling, which is far below the expected 125% increase due to the geometry factor. The process allows for printing of high-performance multilayer circuits, which is demonstrated by the development of printed stretchable near-field communication tags.</p>","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"78 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143546705","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}
Nihesh Mohan, Juan Ignacio Ahuir-Torres, Hiren R. Kotadia, Gordon Elger
{"title":"Laser sintering of Cu particle-free inks for high-performance printed electronics","authors":"Nihesh Mohan, Juan Ignacio Ahuir-Torres, Hiren R. Kotadia, Gordon Elger","doi":"10.1038/s41528-025-00389-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00389-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigates laser sintering of Cu particle-free ink (Cu formate tetrahydrate—amino-2-propanol complex) as an alternative to conventional sintering in an oven (under inert/reducing atmosphere). Utilizing benefits of high-speed localized heating using laser, substrate damage can be prevented for low-melting substrates such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). Firstly, a suitable sintering process window is achieved based on energy density for two different flexible polymeric susbtrates: Polyimide and PET using different laser parameters (laser power, scan rate and spot diameter). Subsequently, characterization of laser sintered traces are also made using different laser optic profiles (Gaussian and top hat). Different methodologies for fabrication of metallized Cu layer were also demonstrated. A very low bulk resistivity of 3.24 µΩcm (1.87 times of bulk Cu) was achieved on trace thickness of 0.85 ± 0.15 µm exhibiting good adherence to polymeric substrates. A promising fabrication process of low-cost and reliable flexible printed electronic devices is demonstrated.</p>","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143538536","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}
{"title":"Ultrasensitive biosensing meta-garment via wetting gradient effect for heat-exhaustion warning","authors":"Ming Li, Ganghua Li, Zengqing Li, Yalin Tang, Ruidong Xu, Tong Xu, Yiwen Wang, Yuanyuan Liu, Lijun Qu, Binghao Wang, Yingkui Yang, Mingwei Tian","doi":"10.1038/s41528-025-00392-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00392-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Heat exhaustion is a prevalent heat-related illness among firefighters, posing a severe threat to life without timely intervention. However, current firefighter garments are limited by their singular functionality and cannot collect or analyze body fluid during rescue missions. Here, we introduce a wetting gradient effect assisted ultrasensitive meta-garment that incorporates multi-signal biomonitoring, offering an early warning system for heat exhaustion risk. This design enables real-time detection of heart rate, pH value, and the concentrations of glucose, sodium, and potassium in sweat. Benefiting from the surface energy difference, gradient wettability surfaces can be formed, allowing for precise point-to-point fluid control and regulation. Thus, the biosensing fibers require the lowest detection volume (0.1 μL) and fastest response time (1.4 s) reported to date. This innovative garment provides a practical solution for early health warning based on abnormal multi-biomarker changes, representing a significant advancement in firefighter safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143538350","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}
Linfeng Lan, Bo Huang, Yaping Li, Churou Wang, Jiayi Pan, Jiale Huang, Baozhong Chen, Qi zhou, Longzhen Qiu, Yafei Ding, Qing Wan, Zhong Ji, Yuan Li, Junbiao Peng, Yong Cao
{"title":"Stretchable optoelectronic synapses with ultraviolet to near-infrared perception for retina-inspired computing and vision-adaptive sensing","authors":"Linfeng Lan, Bo Huang, Yaping Li, Churou Wang, Jiayi Pan, Jiale Huang, Baozhong Chen, Qi zhou, Longzhen Qiu, Yafei Ding, Qing Wan, Zhong Ji, Yuan Li, Junbiao Peng, Yong Cao","doi":"10.1038/s41528-025-00390-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00390-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Stretchable optoelectronic synapses are attractive for intelligent perception, neuromorphic computation and visual adaptation. Here, we demonstrate a highly stretchable organic optoelectronic synaptic transistor (s-OOST) with a transconductance up to 86 mS that can simultaneously accept modulation of electrical pulses and multi-wavelength light signals (from ultraviolet to near-infrared). The s-OOST achieved highly reliable synaptic plasticity for brain-inspired computation and retina-inspired perception even under 50% tensile strain. Furthermore, the devices exibited vision-adaptive near-infrared sensing ability that was verified by single-pixel scanning imaging. Finally, the multi-wavelength (365 nm–1050 nm) optical synaptic properties were investigated under the applications of imaging memory, polychromatic optical communication and information security (coded by wavelength). This research advances the capabilities of the stretchable integrated systems with vision-adaptive sensing characteristic and computing-in-memory ability.</p>","PeriodicalId":48528,"journal":{"name":"npj Flexible Electronics","volume":"49 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143528244","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}