Skin-inspired thermoreceptors-based electronic skin for biomimicking thermal pain reflexes

Neto, J., Chirila, R., Dahiya, A. S. , Christou, A., Shakthivel, D. and Dahiya, R. (2022) Skin-inspired thermoreceptors-based electronic skin for biomimicking thermal pain reflexes. Advanced Science, 9(27), 2201525. (doi: 10.1002/advs.202201525) (PMID:35876394) (PMCID:PMC9507360)

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Abstract

Electronic systems possessing skin-like morphology and functionalities (electronic skins [e-skins]) have attracted considerable attention in recent years to provide sensory or haptic feedback in growing areas such as robotics, prosthetics, and interactive systems. However, the main focus thus far has been on the distributed pressure or force sensors. Herein a thermoreceptive e-skin with biological systems like functionality is presented. The soft, distributed, and highly sensitive miniaturized (≈700 µm2) artificial thermoreceptors (ATRs) in the e-skin are developed using an innovative fabrication route that involves dielectrophoretic assembly of oriented vanadium pentoxide nanowires at defined locations and high-resolution electrohydrodynamic printing. Inspired from the skin morphology, the ATRs are embedded in a thermally insulating soft nanosilica/epoxy polymeric layer and yet they exhibit excellent thermal sensitivity (−1.1 ± 0.3% °C−1), fast response (≈1s), exceptional stability (negligible hysteresis for >5 h operation), and mechanical durability (up to 10 000 bending and twisting loading cycles). Finally, the developed e-skin is integrated on the fingertip of a robotic hand and a biological system like reflex is demonstrated in response to temperature stimuli via localized learning at the hardware level.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This work was supported in part by the European commission through NeuTouch (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2018-813713) project, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council through Engineering Fellowship for Growth (EP/R029644/1) and Hetero-print Programme Grant (EP/R03480X/1).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Dahiya, Dr Abhishek Singh and Neto, Mr Joao and Dahiya, Professor Ravinder and Shakthivel, Dr Dhayalan and Christou, Mr Adamos and Chirila, Mr Radu-Razvan
Authors: Neto, J., Chirila, R., Dahiya, A. S., Christou, A., Shakthivel, D., and Dahiya, R.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
Journal Name:Advanced Science
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:2198-3844
ISSN (Online):2198-3844
Published Online:25 July 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2022 The Authors
First Published:First published in Advanced Science 9(27): 2201525
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
301728Engineering Fellowships for Growth: Printed Tactile SKINRavinder DahiyaEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/R029644/1ENG - Electronics & Nanoscale Engineering
301327`Hetero-print: A holistic approach to transfer-printing for heterogeneous integration in manufacturingPeter SkabaraEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/R03480X/1ENG - Electronics & Nanoscale Engineering