Flexible and Stretchable Sensors

Abstract

The term "sensor" refers to electronic devices that detect atmospheric changes and transfer the change into an electrical signal. Detecting atmospheric changes such as temperature, humidity, and UV concentration is significantly related to our lives in various approaches. Human body motions and diseases can be monitored and controlled by applying sensor devices that are combined with wearable devices. Wearable devices are electronic devices that can be worn or mounted on the human body; mounting sensor devices on the human body or clothing facilitates the collection of data about our daily lives. The electric signals from sensors can be assembled into big data, which can then be applied in Internet of Things technologies. Thus, a recent aim of sensor development has been the enhancement of their flexibility and stretchability by adopting diverse methods. In traditional sensors, inflexible materials such as glass and metal are used as substrates and electrodes, but plenty of materials that show excellent flexibility have been developed to replace traditional materials. This chapter introduces various materials that are used for sensor devices and how they contribute to sensing principles. In addition, we will study how the sensitivity of various sensors is defined.