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Polymer Materials for Flexible Tactile/Pressure Sensors for Wearable Electronics and Human–Machine Interfaces

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Smart and Functional Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 1507

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Center for Smart Materials and Device Integration, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: functional ceramics; mechanical energy harvesting; flexible electronic devices; energy harvester; flexible electronics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid advancement of intelligence and the deep integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) into daily life have revolutionized human–machine interactions. In recent years, polymer-based wearable electronics and human–machine interfaces have garnered significant global attention, with flexible polymer-based pressure/tactile sensors emerging as indispensable components. Researchers are actively pursuing higher-performance tactile sensors characterized by superior sensitivity, broader linear sensing ranges, and enhanced durability.

As a core element of human–machine interaction systems, pressure sensors play a pivotal role in accurately capturing human body movements and instructions, enabling more natural and intuitive control mechanisms. Moreover, the development of sensors capable of recognizing physiological characteristics has significantly propelled progress in health monitoring. Designed as wearable devices, these sensors can continuously collect real-time physiological signals, including heart rate, blood pressure, joint movement, and laryngeal vibrations. This capability allows for comprehensive tracking of the wearer’s health status and activity patterns.

Such innovations not only facilitate early disease detection and precise diagnosis but also provide a scientific foundation for personalized health management. By integrating these technologies into everyday life, they contribute to substantial improvements in quality of life and overall health standards, marking a transformative leap in both medical and consumer electronics fields.

Dr. Yong Zhang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • smart polymer
  • flexible electronics
  • wearable
  • sensor

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 7158 KB  
Article
Construction of PVDF/BTO Fibers with High Piezoelectricity for Self-Powered Flexible Pressure Sensing
by Zao Liu and Hongjian Zhang
Polymers 2025, 17(22), 3043; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17223043 - 17 Nov 2025
Viewed by 619
Abstract
As demanded by the rapid development of wearable electronics, flexible pressure sensors have attracted more and more attention worldwide. However, the performance of pressure sensors based on the piezoelectric effect has not been qualified for practical application. In this work, we designed and [...] Read more.
As demanded by the rapid development of wearable electronics, flexible pressure sensors have attracted more and more attention worldwide. However, the performance of pressure sensors based on the piezoelectric effect has not been qualified for practical application. In this work, we designed and prepared PVDF/BTO fibers by an electrospinning approach and constructed pressure sensors for various human motion detection purposes. The performance is dramatically enhanced due to the high piezoelectric coefficient of BTO nanoparticles and the utilization of PVDF matrix with a high β content. The optimized pressure sensor presents a high power density of 27.5 nW cm−2 at 10 N load stress and remains stable even after 3000 cycles. For human action application, the maximum output voltage is up to 20 V. The optimum β content of the PVDF matrix is up to 72.9%, which in turn contributes to the high energy-harvesting capability of the designed composites. The prepared PVDF/BTO composites show benign capability for sensing various human actions. This work shapes a new strategy for high-performance pressure sensors based on piezoelectric composites. Full article
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10 pages, 3174 KB  
Article
Enhanced Energy Storage Capacity in NBT Micro-Flake Incorporated PVDF Composites
by Tingwei Mei, Mingtao Zhu, Hongjian Zhang and Yong Zhang
Polymers 2025, 17(11), 1486; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17111486 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 702
Abstract
In recent years, dielectric films with a high energy-storage capacity have attracted significant attention due to their wide applications in the fields of renewable energy, electronic devices, and power systems. Their fundamental principle relies on the polarization and depolarization processes of dielectric materials [...] Read more.
In recent years, dielectric films with a high energy-storage capacity have attracted significant attention due to their wide applications in the fields of renewable energy, electronic devices, and power systems. Their fundamental principle relies on the polarization and depolarization processes of dielectric materials under external electric fields to store and release electrical energy, featuring a high power density and high charge–discharge efficiency. In this study, sodium bismuth titanate (NBT) micro-flakes synthesized via a molten salt method were treated with hydrogen peroxide and subsequently blended with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix. An oriented tape-casting process was utilized to fabricate a dielectric thin film with enhanced energy storage capacity under a weakened electric field. Experimental results demonstrated that the introduction of modified NBT micro-flakes facilitated the interfacial interactions between the ceramic fillers and polymer matrix. Additionally, chemical interactions between surface hydroxyl groups and fluorine atoms within PVDF promoted the phase transition from the α to the β phase. Consequently, the energy storage density of PVDF-NBT composite increased from 2.8 J cm−3 to 6.1 J cm−3, representing a 110% enhancement. This design strategy provides novel insights for material innovation and interfacial engineering, showcasing promising potential for next-generation power systems. Full article
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