All\nPaper-Based Flexible and Wearable Piezoresistive Pressure Sensor

Abstract

Flexible\nand wearable pressure sensors are of paramount importance for the\ndevelopment of personalized medicine and electronic skin. However,\nthe preparation of easily disposable pressure sensors is still facing\npressing challenges. Herein, we have developed an all paper-based\npiezoresistive (APBP) pressure sensor through a facile, cost-effective,\nand environmentally friendly method. This pressure sensor was based\non a tissue paper coated with silver nanowires (AgNWs) as a sensing\nmaterial, a nanocellulose paper (NCP) as a bottom substrate for printing\nelectrodes, and NCP as a top encapsulating layer. The APBP pressure\nsensor showed a high sensitivity of 1.5 kPa^–1 in\nthe range of 0.03–30.2 kPa and retained excellent performance\nin the bending state. Furthermore, the APBP sensor has been mounted\non the human skin to monitor physiological signals (such as arterial\nheart pulse and pronunciation from throat) and successfully applied\nas a soft electronic skin to respond to the external pressure. Due\nto the use of the common tissue paper, NCP, AgNWs, and conductive\nnanosilver ink only, the pressure sensor has advantages of low cost,\nfacile craft, and fast preparation and can be disposed off easily\nby incineration. We believe that the developed sensor will propel\nthe advancement of easily disposable pressure sensors and green paper-based\nflexible electronic devices.