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Materials and Devices for Flexible Electronics in Sensor Applications
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Materials and Devices for Flexible Electronics in Sensor Applications

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 January 2026 | Viewed by 9420

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Huanhuan Feng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
Interests: flexible sensors; electronic skins; curved interfaces; health monitoring; wearable devices; tactile sensing; advanced materials; structural designs

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Flexible sensors have attracted increasing attention in the last decade. Compared to conventional rigid sensors, flexible electronics can easily conform to complex curved interfaces due to their exceptional flexibility, significantly expanding their range of applications. They have already demonstrated great potential in various fields, including health monitoring, wearable devices, and tactile sensing. However, despite these significant developments, integrating different advantageous properties—such as maintaining great flexibility while ensuring strength—remains challenging. Developing multifunctional, all-weather sensors that avoid signal interference also presents difficulties.

To improve sensitivity and performance, new materials such as ionogels have been applied to fabricate flexible sensors. Additionally, incorporating micro-structured designs has proven to be a feasible way to enhance their capabilities. Herein, we invite authors to contribute their work involving new developments in the materials, design, and fabrication processes for flexible sensors.

  • Novel materials for flexible sensors with enhanced performance characteristics.
  • Micro- and nano-structuring techniques for improved sensor sensitivity and functionality.
  • Multifunctional flexible sensors capable of operating in various environmental conditions.
  • Innovative fabrication methods that ensure scalability and cost-effectiveness.
  • Case studies and applications showcasing the integration of flexible sensors in real-world scenarios.

Dr. Huanhuan Feng
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • flexible sensors
  • electronic skins
  • curved interfaces
  • health monitoring
  • wearable devices
  • tactile sensing
  • advanced materials
  • structural designs

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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30 pages, 9001 KB  
Article
Laser-Induced Graphene on Biocompatible PDMS/PEG Composites for Limb Motion Sensing
by Anđela Gavran, Marija V. Pergal, Teodora Vićentić, Milena Rašljić Rafajilović, Igor A. Pašti, Marko V. Bošković and Marko Spasenović
Sensors 2025, 25(17), 5238; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25175238 - 22 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1396
Abstract
The advancement of laser-induced graphene (LIG) has significantly enhanced the development of wearable and flexible electronic devices. Due to its exceptional physical, chemical, and electronic properties, LIG has emerged as a highly effective active material for wearable sensors. However, despite the wide range [...] Read more.
The advancement of laser-induced graphene (LIG) has significantly enhanced the development of wearable and flexible electronic devices. Due to its exceptional physical, chemical, and electronic properties, LIG has emerged as a highly effective active material for wearable sensors. However, despite the wide range of materials suitable as precursors for LIG, the scarcity of stretchable and biocompatible polymers amenable to laser graphenization has remained a persistent challenge. In this study, laser-induced graphene (LIG) was fabricated directly on biocompatible and flexible cross-linked PDMS/PEG (with Mn (PEG) = 400 g/mol) composites for the first time, enabling their application in wearable sensors. The addition of PEG compensates for the low carbon content in PDMS, enabling efficient laser graphenization. Laser parameters were systematically optimized to achieve high-quality graphene, and a comprehensive characterization with varying PEG content (10–40 wt.%) was conducted using multiple analytical techniques. Tensile tests revealed that incorporating PEG significantly enhanced elongation at break, reaching 237% for PDMS/40 wt.% PEG while reducing Young’s modulus to 0.25 MPa, highlighting the excellent flexibility of the substrate material. Surface analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy demonstrated the formation of high-quality few-layer graphene with the fewest defects in PDMS/40 wt.% PEG composites. Nevertheless, the adhesion of electrical contacts to LIG that was directly induced on PDMS/PEG proved to be challenging. To overcome this challenge, we produced devices by means of laser induction on polyimide and transfer to PDMS/PEG. We demonstrate the practical utility of such devices by applying them to monitor limb motion in real time. The sensor showed a stable and repeatable piezoresistive response under multiple bending cycles. These results provide valuable insights into the fabrication of biocompatible LIG-based flexible sensors, paving the way for their broader implementation in medical and sports technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Devices for Flexible Electronics in Sensor Applications)
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15 pages, 5749 KB  
Article
Additively Manufactured Flexible EGaIn Sensor for Dynamic Detection and Sensing on Ultra-Curved Surfaces
by Jiangnan Yan, Jianing Ding, Yang Cao, Hongyu Yi, Limeng Zhan, Yifan Gao, Kongyu Ge, Hongjun Ji, Mingyu Li and Huanhuan Feng
Sensors 2025, 25(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25010037 - 25 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1553
Abstract
Electronic skin is widely employed in multiple applications such as health monitoring, robot tactile perception, and bionic prosthetics. In this study, we fabricated millimeter-scale electronic skin featuring compact sensing units using the Boston Micro Fabrication S130 (a high-precision additive manufacturing device) and the [...] Read more.
Electronic skin is widely employed in multiple applications such as health monitoring, robot tactile perception, and bionic prosthetics. In this study, we fabricated millimeter-scale electronic skin featuring compact sensing units using the Boston Micro Fabrication S130 (a high-precision additive manufacturing device) and the template removal method. We used a gallium-based liquid metal and achieved an inner channel diameter of 0.1 mm. The size of the sensing unit was 3 × 3 mm2. This unit exhibited a wide linear sensing range (10–22,000 Pa) and high-pressure resolution (10 Pa) even on an ultra-curved surface (radius of curvature was 6 mm). Sliding was successfully detected at speeds of 8–54 mm/s. An artificial nose with nine sensing units was fabricated, and it exhibited excellent multitouch and sliding trajectory recognition capabilities. This confirmed that the electronic skin functioned normally, even on an ultra-curved surface. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Devices for Flexible Electronics in Sensor Applications)
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Review

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30 pages, 9276 KB  
Review
Recent Progress in Flexible Piezoelectric Tactile Sensors: Materials, Structures, Fabrication, and Application
by Jingyao Tang, Yiheng Li, Yirong Yu, Qing Hu, Wenya Du and Dabin Lin
Sensors 2025, 25(3), 964; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25030964 - 5 Feb 2025
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5803
Abstract
Flexible tactile sensors are widely used in aerospace, medical and health monitoring, electronic skin, human–computer interaction, and other fields due to their unique advantages, thus becoming a research hotspot. The goal is to develop a flexible tactile sensor characterized by outstanding sensitivity, extensive [...] Read more.
Flexible tactile sensors are widely used in aerospace, medical and health monitoring, electronic skin, human–computer interaction, and other fields due to their unique advantages, thus becoming a research hotspot. The goal is to develop a flexible tactile sensor characterized by outstanding sensitivity, extensive detection range and linearity, elevated spatial resolution, and commendable adaptability. Among several strategies like capacitive, piezoresistive, and triboelectric tactile sensors, etc., we focus on piezoelectric tactile sensors because of their self-powered nature, high sensitivity, and quick response time. These sensors can respond to a wide range of dynamic mechanical stimuli and turn them into measurable electrical signals. This makes it possible to accurately detect objects, including their shapes and textures, and for them to sense touch in real time. This work encapsulates current advancements in flexible piezoelectric tactile sensors, focusing on enhanced material properties, optimized structural design, improved fabrication techniques, and broadened application domains. We outline the challenges facing piezoelectric tactile sensors to provide inspiration and guidance for their future development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials and Devices for Flexible Electronics in Sensor Applications)
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