Mass‐Producible 3D Hair Structure‐Editable Silk‐Based Electronic Skin for Multiscenario Signal Monitoring and Emergency Alarming System

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2023-11, Vol.33 (46)
• Main Authors: Ge, Dan, Mi, Qingling, Gong, Ruixin, Li, Shenghong, Qin, Congcong, Dong, Yanjuan, Yu, Hou‐Yong, Tam, Kam Chiu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air flow; Biomimetics; Emergency warning programs; Formability; Insects; Mass production; Materials science; Morse code; Motion perception; Nanostructure; Polypyrroles; Prostheses; Sensitivity; Signal monitoring; Silk fibroin
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202305328

Structurally tunable electronic skin (e‐skin) is beneficial for advancing wearable electronics, prosthetics, and human‐machine interaction (HMI). However, the regulation of e‐skin by traditional nanostructure technology is complex and expensive, moreover, the nanostructure's poor deformability leads to small detection range and low sensitivity. Herein, inspired by the structure of skin‐hair and insect burr, a polypyrrole‐silk/glycerol plasticized silk fibroin (P‐silk/RG) e‐skin fabricated by a simple 3D biomimetic structural strategy is reported. Benefitting from the editability (length, position) of this structure, P‐silk/RG has a signal selectivity, long‐cilia P‐silk/RG demonstrates high sensitivity (respond to weak signal‐airflow), while the short‐cilia P‐silk/RG exhibits wide pressure detection range (0.5–200 g) and high cycle stability (8000 compressions). Therefore, different forms of P‐silk/RG are used in different scenarios (long‐cilia for monitoring breathing and coughing for motion detection and disease diagnosis, short‐cilia for pressure‐sensitive Morse code). Besides, P‐silk/RG exhibits good waterproof, editable conductive points and easy device integration, providing the basis for underwater information transmission, multibit coded command output, and early warning for emergency sports accidents and sedentary. Surprisingly, combining this structure with textile weaving can be mass‐produced. Obviously, this 3D biomimetic structure strategy endows e‐skin with editability and improved scene adaptability to provide a favorable way for mass production.