Advanced Nanotechnology in Intelligent Flexible Devices

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanoelectronics, Nanosensors and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2025 | Viewed by 4889

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Interests: flexible devices; biomimetic engineering; soft bioelectronics; functional materials

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Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Interests: biomimetic engineering; microfabrication; intelligent surfaces; wearable sensors; functional interface

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology has enabled the creation of flexible devices characterized by exceptional flexibility and conformability, remarkable sensing capabilities, and excellent interfacial functions, etc. As a result, these devices find wide-ranging applications in diverse fields such as flexible electronics, functional surfaces, and healthcare. Concurrently, the emergence of artificial intelligence has facilitated the development of intelligent flexible devices, offering efficient device development and fostering smart applications. Consequently, intelligent flexible devices have garnered significant attention from researchers and engineers across multiple disciplines, leading to breakthroughs in areas such as biomimetic engineering, nanomaterials, functional devices, nanostructures, device fabrication and integration, etc.

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials, titled "Advanced Nanotechnology in Intelligent Flexible Devices," aims to highlight recent advancements spanning novel nanotechnology, functional flexible devices, and intelligent applications. We invite researchers, scientists, and engineers to contribute their state-of-the-art research, ranging from original research articles to topic reviews, in the field of nanotechnology within the context of intelligent flexible devices.

Dr. Zhiqiang Ma
Dr. Liwen Zhang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • nanomaterials/nanostructures
  • biomimetic engineering
  • flexible devices
  • functional surfaces
  • soft electronics
  • artificial intelligence
  • smart applications

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 4279 KiB  
Article
Soft, Stretchable, High-Sensitivity, Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube-Based Strain Sensor for Joint Healthcare
by Zechen Guo, Xiaohe Hu, Yaqiong Chen, Yanwei Ma, Fuqun Zhao and Sheng Guo
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(5), 332; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15050332 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 496
Abstract
Exoskeletons play a crucial role in joint healthcare by providing targeted support and rehabilitation for individuals with musculoskeletal diseases. As an assistive device, the accurate monitoring of the user’s joint signals and exoskeleton status using wearable sensors is essential to ensure the efficiency [...] Read more.
Exoskeletons play a crucial role in joint healthcare by providing targeted support and rehabilitation for individuals with musculoskeletal diseases. As an assistive device, the accurate monitoring of the user’s joint signals and exoskeleton status using wearable sensors is essential to ensure the efficiency of conducting complex tasks in various scenarios. However, balancing sensitivity and stretchability in wearable devices for exoskeleton applications remains a significant challenge. Here, we introduce a wearable strain sensor for detecting finger and knee joint motions. The sensor utilizes a stretchable elastic conductive network, incorporating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into Ecoflex. The concentration of MWCNTs has been meticulously optimized to achieve both a high gauge factor (GF) and stability. With its high sensitivity, the sensor is enabled to be applied in the angle monitoring of finger joints. By integrating the sensor with human knee joints and an exoskeleton device, it can simultaneously detect the flexion and extension movements in real-time. This sensor holds significant potential for enhancing exoskeleton performance and improving joint healthcare technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanotechnology in Intelligent Flexible Devices)
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14 pages, 1546 KiB  
Article
Mobility Gaps of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Related to Hydrogen Concentration and Its Influence on Electrical Performance
by Francesca Peverini, Saba Aziz, Aishah Bashiri, Marco Bizzarri, Maurizio Boscardin, Lucio Calcagnile, Carlo Calcatelli, Daniela Calvo, Silvia Caponi, Mirco Caprai, Domenico Caputo, Anna Paola Caricato, Roberto Catalano, Roberto Cirro, Giuseppe Antonio Pablo Cirrone, Michele Crivellari, Tommaso Croci, Giacomo Cuttone, Gianpiero de Cesare, Paolo De Remigis, Sylvain Dunand, Michele Fabi, Luca Frontini, Livio Fanò, Benedetta Gianfelici, Catia Grimani, Omar Hammad, Maria Ionica, Keida Kanxheri, Matthew Large, Francesca Lenta, Valentino Liberali, Nicola Lovecchio, Maurizio Martino, Giuseppe Maruccio, Giovanni Mazza, Mauro Menichelli, Anna Grazia Monteduro, Francesco Moscatelli, Arianna Morozzi, Augusto Nascetti, Stefania Pallotta, Andrea Papi, Daniele Passeri, Marco Petasecca, Giada Petringa, Igor Pis, Pisana Placidi, Gianluca Quarta, Silvia Rizzato, Alessandro Rossi, Giulia Rossi, Federico Sabbatini, Andrea Scorzoni, Leonello Servoli, Alberto Stabile, Silvia Tacchi, Cinzia Talamonti, Jonathan Thomet, Luca Tosti, Giovanni Verzellesi, Mattia Villani, Richard James Wheadon, Nicolas Wyrsch, Nicola Zema and Maddalena Pedioadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(19), 1551; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14191551 - 25 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1873
Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive study of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si)-based detectors, utilizing electrical characterization, Raman spectroscopy, photoemission, and inverse photoemission techniques. The unique properties of a-Si have sparked interest in its application for radiation detection in both physics and medicine. Although amorphous [...] Read more.
This paper presents a comprehensive study of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si)-based detectors, utilizing electrical characterization, Raman spectroscopy, photoemission, and inverse photoemission techniques. The unique properties of a-Si have sparked interest in its application for radiation detection in both physics and medicine. Although amorphous silicon (a-Si) is inherently a highly defective material, hydrogenation significantly reduces defect density, enabling its use in radiation detector devices. Spectroscopic measurements provide insights into the intricate relationship between the structure and electronic properties of a-Si, enhancing our understanding of how specific configurations, such as the choice of substrate, can markedly influence detector performance. In this study, we compare the performance of a-Si detectors deposited on two different substrates: crystalline silicon (c-Si) and flexible Kapton. Our findings suggest that detectors deposited on Kapton exhibit reduced sensitivity, despite having comparable noise and leakage current levels to those on crystalline silicon. We hypothesize that this discrepancy may be attributed to the substrate material, differences in film morphology, and/or the alignment of energy levels. Further measurements are planned to substantiate these hypotheses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanotechnology in Intelligent Flexible Devices)
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Review

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42 pages, 3886 KiB  
Review
Utilizing Nanomaterials in Microfluidic Devices for Disease Detection and Treatment
by Zhibiao Tian, Yatian Fu, Zhiyong Dang, Tao Guo, Wenjuan Li and Jing Zhang
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(6), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15060434 - 12 Mar 2025
Viewed by 855
Abstract
Microfluidic technology has gained widespread application in the field of biomedical research due to its exceptional sensitivity and high specificity. Particularly when combined with nanomaterials, the synergy between the two has significantly advanced fields such as precision medicine, drug delivery, disease detection, and [...] Read more.
Microfluidic technology has gained widespread application in the field of biomedical research due to its exceptional sensitivity and high specificity. Particularly when combined with nanomaterials, the synergy between the two has significantly advanced fields such as precision medicine, drug delivery, disease detection, and treatment. This article aims to provide an overview of the latest research achievements of microfluidic nanomaterials in disease detection and treatment. It delves into the applications of microfluidic nanomaterials in detecting blood parameters, cardiovascular disease markers, neurological disease markers, and tumor markers. Special emphasis is placed on their roles in disease treatment, including models such as blood vessels, the blood–brain barrier, lung chips, and tumors. The development of microfluidic nanomaterials in emerging medical technologies, particularly in skin interactive devices and medical imaging, is also introduced. Additionally, the challenges and future prospects of microfluidic nanomaterials in current clinical applications are discussed. In summary, microfluidic nanomaterials play an indispensable role in disease detection and treatment. With the continuous advancement of technology, their applications in the medical field will become even more profound and extensive. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanotechnology in Intelligent Flexible Devices)
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26 pages, 4467 KiB  
Review
Surface-Functionalizing Strategies for Multiplexed Molecular Biosensing: Developments Powered by Advancements in Nanotechnologies
by Shangjie Zou, Guangdun Peng and Zhiqiang Ma
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(24), 2014; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14242014 - 14 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1194
Abstract
Multiplexed biosensing methods for simultaneously detecting multiple biomolecules are important for investigating biological mechanisms associated with physiological processes, developing applications in life sciences, and conducting medical tests. The development of biosensors, especially those advanced biosensors with multiplexing potentials, strongly depends on advancements in [...] Read more.
Multiplexed biosensing methods for simultaneously detecting multiple biomolecules are important for investigating biological mechanisms associated with physiological processes, developing applications in life sciences, and conducting medical tests. The development of biosensors, especially those advanced biosensors with multiplexing potentials, strongly depends on advancements in nanotechnologies, including the nano-coating of thin films, micro–nano 3D structures, and nanotags for signal generation. Surface functionalization is a critical process for biosensing applications, one which enables the immobilization of biological probes or other structures that assist in the capturing of biomolecules. During this functionalizing process, nanomaterials can either be the objects of surface modification or the materials used to modify other base surfaces. These surface-functionalizing strategies, involving the coordination of sensor structures and materials, as well as the associated modifying methods, are largely determinative in the performance of biosensing applications. This review introduces the current studies on biosensors with multiplexing potentials and focuses specifically on the roles of nanomaterials in the design and functionalization of these biosensors. A detailed description of the paradigms used for method selection has been set forth to assist understanding and accelerate the application of novel nanotechnologies in the development of biosensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanotechnology in Intelligent Flexible Devices)
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