Micromachines

3 pages, 137 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Editorial for the Special Issue on 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices

by Savas Tasoglu and Albert Folch

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110609 - 21 Nov 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3133

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has revolutionized the microfabrication prototyping workflow over the past few years. [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices)

13 pages, 6447 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Calibration of a Constitutive Model from Tension and Nanoindentation for Lead-Free Solder

by Xu Long, Xiaodi Zhang, Wenbin Tang, Shaobin Wang, Yihui Feng and Chao Chang

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 608; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110608 - 20 Nov 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3656

Abstract

It is challenging to evaluate constitutive behaviour by using conventional uniaxial tests for materials with limited sizes, considering the miniaturization trend of integrated circuits in electronic devices. An instrumented nanoindentation approach is appealing to obtain local properties as the function of penetration depth. [...] Read more.

It is challenging to evaluate constitutive behaviour by using conventional uniaxial tests for materials with limited sizes, considering the miniaturization trend of integrated circuits in electronic devices. An instrumented nanoindentation approach is appealing to obtain local properties as the function of penetration depth. In this paper, both conventional tensile and nanoindentation experiments are performed on samples of a lead-free Sn–3.0Ag–0.5Cu (SAC305) solder alloy. In order to align the material behaviour, thermal treatments were performed at different temperatures and durations for all specimens, for both tensile experiments and nanoindentation experiments. Based on the self-similarity of the used Berkovich indenter, a power-law model is adopted to describe the stress–strain relationship by means of analytical dimensionless analysis on the applied load-penetration depth responses from nanoindentation experiments. In light of the significant difference of applied strain rates in the tensile and nanoindentation experiments, two “rate factors” are proposed by multiplying the representative stress and stress exponent in the adopted analytical model, and the corresponding values are determined for the best predictions of nanoindentation responses in the form of an applied load–indentation depth relationship. Eventually, good agreement is achieved when comparing the stress–strain responses measured from tensile experiments and estimated from the applied load–indentation depth responses of nanoindentation experiments. The rate factors

ψ_{σ}

and

ψ_{n}

are calibrated to be about 0.52 and 0.10, respectively, which facilitate the conversion of constitutive behaviour from nanoindentation experiments for material sample with a limited size. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Small Scale Deformation using Advanced Nanoindentation Techniques)

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13 pages, 3712 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Renewal and Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) Stimulated by Multi-Axial Tensile Strain in a Pneumatic Microdevice

by Chih-Hao Chiu, Yun-Wen Tong, Wen-Ling Yeh, Kin Fong Lei and Alvin Chao-Yu Chen

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110607 - 19 Nov 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3465

Abstract

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were suggested for treating degenerative osteoarthritis, suppressing inflammatory responses, and repairing damaged soft tissues. Moreover, the ADSCs have the potential to undergo self-renewal and differentiate into bone, tendon, cartilage, and ligament. Recently, investigation of the self-renewal and differentiation of [...] Read more.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were suggested for treating degenerative osteoarthritis, suppressing inflammatory responses, and repairing damaged soft tissues. Moreover, the ADSCs have the potential to undergo self-renewal and differentiate into bone, tendon, cartilage, and ligament. Recently, investigation of the self-renewal and differentiation of the ADSCs has become an attractive area. In this work, a pneumatic microdevice has been developed to study the gene expression of the ADSCs after the stimulation of multi-axial tensile strain. The ADSCs were cultured on the microdevice and experienced multi-axial tensile strain during a three-day culture course. Self-renewal and differentiation abilities were investigated by mRNA expressions of NANOG, sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2), octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), sex determining region Y-box9 (SOX9), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). The result showed that the genes related self-renewal were significantly up-regulated after the tensile stimulation. Higher proliferation ratio of the ADSCs was also shown by cell viability assay. The microdevice provides a promising platform for cell-based study under mechanical tensile stimulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section B：Biology and Biomedicine)

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12 pages, 10609 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Set of Platforms with Combinatorial and High-Throughput Technique for Gas Sensing, from Material to Device and to System

by Zhenghao Mao, Jianchao Wang, Youjin Gong, Heng Yang and Shunping Zhang

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 606; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110606 - 19 Nov 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3271

Abstract

In a new E-nose development, the sensor array needs to be optimized to have enough sensitivity and selectivity for gas/odor classification in the application. The development process includes the preparation of gas sensitive materials, gas sensor fabrication, array optimization, sensor array package and [...] Read more.

In a new E-nose development, the sensor array needs to be optimized to have enough sensitivity and selectivity for gas/odor classification in the application. The development process includes the preparation of gas sensitive materials, gas sensor fabrication, array optimization, sensor array package and E-nose system integration, which would take a long time to complete. A set of platforms including a gas sensing film parallel synthesis platform, high-throughput gas sensing unmanned testing platform and a handheld wireless E-nose system were presented in this paper to improve the efficiency of a new E-nose development. Inkjet printing was used to parallel synthesize sensor libraries (400 sensors can be prepared each time). For gas sensor selection and array optimization, a high-throughput unmanned testing platform was designed and fabricated for gas sensing measurements of more than 1000 materials synchronously. The structures of a handheld wireless E-nose system with low power were presented in detail. Using the proposed hardware platforms, a new E-nose development might only take one week. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructure Based Sensors for Gas Sensing: from Devices to Systems)

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3 pages, 142 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Editorial for Special Issue on Flexible Electronics: Fabrication and Ubiquitous Integration

by Ramses V. Martinez

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110605 - 19 Nov 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2336

Abstract

Based on the premise “anything thin is flexible”, the field of flexible electronics has been fueled from the ever-evolving advances in thin-film materials and devices. [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flexible Electronics: Fabrication and Ubiquitous Integration)

13 pages, 9218 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Method of Calculating the Inductance Value of MEMS Suspended Inductors with Silicon Substrates

by Yiyuan Li, Jianhua Li and Lixin Xu

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 604; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110604 - 17 Nov 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4195

Abstract

Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) suspended inductors have excellent radio-frequency (RF) performance. The inductance value is one of the main features that characterizes the performance of inductors. It is important to consider the influence of the substrate and the suspension height in calculating the inductance [...] Read more.

Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) suspended inductors have excellent radio-frequency (RF) performance. The inductance value is one of the main features that characterizes the performance of inductors. It is important to consider the influence of the substrate and the suspension height in calculating the inductance value accurately. In this paper, a method is proposed to calculate the inductance value of the MEMS suspended inductor wire with a silicon substrate, as the wire is the basic component of the inductor coil. Then the method is extended to the suspended inductors consisting of a single turn coil. The calculation results obtained by this proposed method were verified by finite-element analysis (HFSS) and they were found to agree well with the results of the HFSS simulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section A：Physics)

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8 pages, 3012 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Passivation Layers on Positive Gate Bias-Stress Stability of Amorphous InGaZnO Thin-Film Transistors

by Yan Zhou and Chengyuan Dong

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 603; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110603 - 17 Nov 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5580

Abstract

Passivation (PV) layers could effectively improve the positive gate bias-stress (PGBS) stability of amorphous InGaZnO (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs), whereas the related physical mechanism remains unclear. In this study, SiO₂ or Al₂O₃ films with different thicknesses were used to [...] Read more.

Passivation (PV) layers could effectively improve the positive gate bias-stress (PGBS) stability of amorphous InGaZnO (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs), whereas the related physical mechanism remains unclear. In this study, SiO₂ or Al₂O₃ films with different thicknesses were used to passivate the a-IGZO TFTs, making the devices more stable during PGBS tests. With the increase in PV layer thickness, the PGBS stability of a-IGZO TFTs improved due to the stronger barrier effect of the PV layers. When the PV layer thickness was larger than the characteristic length, nearly no threshold voltage shift occurred, indicating that the ambient atmosphere effect rather than the charge trapping dominated the PGBS instability of a-IGZO TFTs in this study. The SiO₂ PV layers showed a better improvement effect than the Al₂O₃ because the former had a smaller characteristic length (~5 nm) than that of the Al₂O₃ PV layers (~10 nm). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Based Micro/Nano Devices)

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20 pages, 3036 KiB

Open AccessReview

Monolithic Multi Degree of Freedom (MDoF) Capacitive MEMS Accelerometers

by Zakriya Mohammed, Ibrahim (Abe) M. Elfadel and Mahmoud Rasras

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110602 - 16 Nov 2018

Cited by 57 | Viewed by 8925

Abstract

With the continuous advancements in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication technology, inertial sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes can be designed and manufactured with smaller footprint and lower power consumption. In the literature, there are several reported accelerometer designs based on MEMS technology and utilizing [...] Read more.

With the continuous advancements in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication technology, inertial sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes can be designed and manufactured with smaller footprint and lower power consumption. In the literature, there are several reported accelerometer designs based on MEMS technology and utilizing various transductions like capacitive, piezoelectric, optical, thermal, among several others. In particular, capacitive accelerometers are the most popular and highly researched due to several advantages like high sensitivity, low noise, low temperature sensitivity, linearity, and small footprint. Accelerometers can be designed to sense acceleration in all the three directions (X, Y, and Z-axis). Single-axis accelerometers are the most common and are often integrated orthogonally and combined as multiple-degree-of-freedom (MDoF) packages for sensing acceleration in the three directions. This type of MDoF increases the overall device footprint and cost. It also causes calibration errors and may require expensive compensations. Another type of MDoF accelerometers is based on monolithic integration and is proving to be effective in solving the footprint and calibration problems. There are mainly two classes of such monolithic MDoF accelerometers, depending on the number of proof masses used. The first class uses multiple proof masses with the main advantage being zero calibration issues. The second class uses a single proof mass, which results in compact device with a reduced noise floor. The latter class, however, suffers from high cross-axis sensitivity. It also requires very innovative layout designs, owing to the complicated mechanical structures and electrical contact placement. The performance complications due to nonlinearity, post fabrication process, and readout electronics affects both classes of accelerometers. In order to effectively compare them, we have used metrics such as sensitivity per unit area and noise-area product. This paper is devoted to an in-depth review of monolithic multi-axis capacitive MEMS accelerometers, including a detailed analysis of recent advancements aimed at solving their problems such as size, noise floor, cross-axis sensitivity, and process aware modeling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue MEMS Accelerometers)

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7 pages, 2323 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sol-Gel Template Synthesis and Characterization of Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ Nanowire Arrays

by Yahua Hu, Mu Gu, Xiaolin Liu, Juannan Zhang, Shiming Huang and Bo Liu

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 601; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110601 - 16 Nov 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4651

Abstract

Uniform Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanowire arrays were successfully prepared by the sol-gel process using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The as-synthesized nanowires are homogeneous, highly ordered, and dense and have a uniform diameter of ~300 nm defined by the AAO [...] Read more.

Uniform Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanowire arrays were successfully prepared by the sol-gel process using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The as-synthesized nanowires are homogeneous, highly ordered, and dense and have a uniform diameter of ~300 nm defined by the AAO templates. The X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction results show that the Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanowires have a polycrystalline cubic structure, and the crystallite size of the Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanowires is confined by the AAO template. The nanowires within the AAO template showed good photoluminescence and X-ray-excited optical luminescence performances for Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺. The emission peaks were attributed to the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_J transitions of Eu³⁺ (J = 0, 1, 2, 3). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives in Nanowires: From Growth and Characterization to Technological Applications)

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Graphical abstract

15 pages, 6362 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adaptive Micromixer Based on the Solutocapillary Marangoni Effect in a Continuous-Flow Microreactor

by Dmitry Bratsun, Konstantin Kostarev, Alexey Mizev, Sebastian Aland, Marcel Mokbel, Karin Schwarzenberger and Kerstin Eckert

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 600; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110600 - 16 Nov 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4462

Abstract

Continuous-flow microreactors are an important development in chemical engineering technology, since pharmaceutical production needs flexibility in reconfiguring the synthesis system rather than large volumes of product yield. Microreactors of this type have a special vessel, in which the convective vortices are organized to [...] Read more.

Continuous-flow microreactors are an important development in chemical engineering technology, since pharmaceutical production needs flexibility in reconfiguring the synthesis system rather than large volumes of product yield. Microreactors of this type have a special vessel, in which the convective vortices are organized to mix the reagents to increase the product output. We propose a new type of micromixer based on the intensive relaxation oscillations induced by a fundamental effect discovered recently. The mechanism of these oscillations was found to be a coupling of the solutal Marangoni effect, buoyancy and diffusion. The phenomenon can be observed in the vicinity of an air–liquid (or liquid–liquid) interface with inhomogeneous concentration of a surface-active solute. Important features of the oscillations are demonstrated experimentally and numerically. The periodicity of the oscillations is a result of the repeated regeneration of the Marangoni driving force. This feature is used in our design of a micromixer with a single air bubble inside the reaction zone. We show that the micromixer does not consume external energy and adapts to the medium state due to feedback. It switches on automatically each time when a concentration inhomogeneity in the reaction zone occurs, and stops mixing when the solution becomes sufficiently uniform. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microscale Surface Tension and Its Applications)

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26 pages, 9106 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review for Compact Model of Thin-Film Transistors (TFTs)

by Nianduan Lu, Wenfeng Jiang, Quantan Wu, Di Geng, Ling Li and Ming Liu

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 599; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110599 - 15 Nov 2018

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 11702

Abstract

Thin-film transistors (TFTs) have grown into a huge industry due to their broad applications in display, radio-frequency identification tags (RFID), logical calculation, etc. In order to bridge the gap between the fabrication process and the circuit design, compact model plays an indispensable role [...] Read more.

Thin-film transistors (TFTs) have grown into a huge industry due to their broad applications in display, radio-frequency identification tags (RFID), logical calculation, etc. In order to bridge the gap between the fabrication process and the circuit design, compact model plays an indispensable role in the development and application of TFTs. The purpose of this review is to provide a theoretical description of compact models of TFTs with different active layers, such as polysilicon, amorphous silicon, organic and In-Ga-Zn-O (IGZO) semiconductors. Special attention is paid to the surface-potential-based compact models of silicon-based TFTs. With the understanding of both the charge transport characteristics and the requirement of TFTs in organic and IGZO TFTs, we have proposed the surface-potential-based compact models and the parameter extraction techniques. The proposed models can provide accurate circuit-level performance prediction and RFID circuit design, and pass the Gummel symmetry test (GST). Finally; the outlook on the compact models of TFTs is briefly discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Miniaturized Transistors)

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11 pages, 2182 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Spherical Hybrid Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Enhanced Water Wave Energy Harvesting

by Kwangseok Lee, Jeong-won Lee, Kihwan Kim, Donghyeon Yoo, Dong Sung Kim, Woonbong Hwang, Insang Song and Jae-Yoon Sim

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 598; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110598 - 15 Nov 2018

Cited by 48 | Viewed by 7132

Abstract

Water waves are a continuously generated renewable source of energy. However, their random motion and low frequency pose significant challenges for harvesting their energy. Herein, we propose a spherical hybrid triboelectric nanogenerator (SH-TENG) that efficiently harvests the energy of low frequency, random water [...] Read more.

Water waves are a continuously generated renewable source of energy. However, their random motion and low frequency pose significant challenges for harvesting their energy. Herein, we propose a spherical hybrid triboelectric nanogenerator (SH-TENG) that efficiently harvests the energy of low frequency, random water waves. The SH-TENG converts the kinetic energy of the water wave into solid–solid and solid–liquid triboelectric energy simultaneously using a single electrode. The electrical output of the SH-TENG for six degrees of freedom of motion in water was investigated. Further, in order to demonstrate hybrid energy harvesting from multiple energy sources using a single electrode on the SH-TENG, the charging performance of a capacitor was evaluated. The experimental results indicate that SH-TENGs have great potential for use in self-powered environmental monitoring systems that monitor factors such as water temperature, water wave height, and pollution levels in oceans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanogenerators in Korea)

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13 pages, 2682 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Single Cylinder-Type Piezoelectric Actuator with Two Active Kinematic Pairs

by Ramutis Bansevicius, Jurate Janutenaite-Bogdaniene, Vytautas Jurenas, Genadijus Kulvietis, Dalius Mazeika and Asta Drukteiniene

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 597; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110597 - 15 Nov 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3323

Abstract

There is an ever-increasing demand for small-size, low-cost, and high-precision positioning systems. Therefore, investigation in this field is performed to search for various solutions that can meet technical requirements of precise multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) positioning systems. This paper presents a new design of a [...] Read more.

There is an ever-increasing demand for small-size, low-cost, and high-precision positioning systems. Therefore, investigation in this field is performed to search for various solutions that can meet technical requirements of precise multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) positioning systems. This paper presents a new design of a piezoelectric cylindrical actuator with two active kinematic pairs. This means that a single actuator is used to create vibrations that are transformed into the rotation of the sphere located on the top of the cylinder and at the same time ensure movement of the piezoelectric cylinder on the plane. Numerical and experimental investigations of the piezoelectric cylinder have been performed. A mathematical model of contacting force control was developed to solve the problem of positioning of the rotor when it needs to be rotated or moved according to a specific motion trajectory. The numerical simulation included harmonic response analysis of the actuator to analyze the trajectories of the contact points motion. A prototype actuator has been manufactured and tested. Obtained results confirmed that such a device is suitable for both positioning and movement of the actuator in the plane. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Piezoelectric Transducers: Materials, Devices and Applications)

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11 pages, 4260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

On-Chip Tunable Cell Rotation Using Acoustically Oscillating Asymmetrical Microstructures

by Lin Feng, Bin Song, Deyuan Zhang, Yonggang Jiang and Fumihito Arai

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110596 - 14 Nov 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5137

Abstract

The precise rotational manipulation of cells and other micrometer-sized biological samples is critical to many applications in biology, medicine, and agriculture. We describe an acoustic-based, on-chip manipulation method that can achieve tunable cell rotation. In an acoustic field formed by the vibration of [...] Read more.

The precise rotational manipulation of cells and other micrometer-sized biological samples is critical to many applications in biology, medicine, and agriculture. We describe an acoustic-based, on-chip manipulation method that can achieve tunable cell rotation. In an acoustic field formed by the vibration of a piezoelectric transducer, acoustic streaming was generated using a specially designed, oscillating asymmetrical sidewall shape. We also studied the nature of acoustic streaming generation by numerical simulations, and our simulation results matched well with the experimental results. Trapping and rotation of diatom cells and swine oocytes were coupled using oscillating asymmetrical microstructures with different vibration modes. Finally, we investigated the relationship between the driving voltage and the speed of cell rotation, showing that the rotational rate achieved could be as large as approximately 1800 rpm. Using our device, the rotation rate can be effectively tuned on demand for single-cell studies. Our acoustofluidic cell rotation approach is simple, compact, non-contact, and biocompatible, permitting rotation irrespective of the optical, magnetic, or electrical properties of the specimen under investigation. Full article

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18 pages, 5870 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Remote Stimulation of Sciatic Nerve Using Cuff Electrodes and Implanted Diodes

by Arati Sridharan, Sanchit Chirania, Bruce C. Towe and Jit Muthuswamy

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110595 - 14 Nov 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6886

Abstract

We demonstrate a method of neurostimulation using implanted, free-floating, inter-neural diodes. They are activated by volume-conducted, high frequency, alternating current (AC) fields and address the issue of instability caused by interconnect wires in chronic nerve stimulation. The aim of this study is to [...] Read more.

We demonstrate a method of neurostimulation using implanted, free-floating, inter-neural diodes. They are activated by volume-conducted, high frequency, alternating current (AC) fields and address the issue of instability caused by interconnect wires in chronic nerve stimulation. The aim of this study is to optimize the set of AC electrical parameters and the diode features to achieve wireless neurostimulation. Three different packaged Schottky diodes (1.5 mm, 500 µm and 220 µm feature sizes) were tested in vivo (n = 17 rats). A careful assessment of sciatic nerve activation as a function of diode–dipole lengths and relative position of the diode was conducted. Subsequently, free-floating Schottky microdiodes were implanted in the nerve (n = 3 rats) and stimulated wirelessly. Thresholds for muscle twitch responses increased non-linearly with frequency. Currents through implanted diodes within the nerve suffer large attenuations (~100 fold) requiring 1–2 mA drive currents for thresholds at 17 µA. The muscle recruitment response using electromyograms (EMGs) is intrinsically steep for subepineurial implants and becomes steeper as diode is implanted at increasing depths away from external AC stimulating electrodes. The study demonstrates the feasibility of activating remote, untethered, implanted microscale diodes using external AC fields and achieving neurostimulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neural Microelectrodes: Design and Applications)

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19 pages, 27168 KiB

Open AccessReview

Ultrasonic Based Tissue Modelling and Engineering

by Karl Olofsson, Björn Hammarström and Martin Wiklund

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110594 - 14 Nov 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5032

Abstract

Systems and devices for in vitro tissue modelling and engineering are valuable tools, which combine the strength between the controlled laboratory environment and the complex tissue organization and environment in vivo. Device-based tissue engineering is also a possible avenue for future explant culture [...] Read more.

Systems and devices for in vitro tissue modelling and engineering are valuable tools, which combine the strength between the controlled laboratory environment and the complex tissue organization and environment in vivo. Device-based tissue engineering is also a possible avenue for future explant culture in regenerative medicine. The most fundamental requirements on platforms intended for tissue modelling and engineering are their ability to shape and maintain cell aggregates over long-term culture. An emerging technology for tissue shaping and culture is ultrasonic standing wave (USW) particle manipulation, which offers label-free and gentle positioning and aggregation of cells. The pressure nodes defined by the USW, where cells are trapped in most cases, are stable over time and can be both static and dynamic depending on actuation schemes. In this review article, we highlight the potential of USW cell manipulation as a tool for tissue modelling and engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustofluidics in Medicine and Biology)

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9 pages, 2327 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Superhydrophobic Water-Solid Contact Triboelectric Generator by Simple Spray-On Fabrication Method

by Jihoon Chung, Deokjae Heo, Banseok Kim and Sangmin Lee

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 593; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110593 - 13 Nov 2018

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 6370

Abstract

Energy harvesting is a method of converting energy from ambient environment into useful electrical energy. Due to the increasing number of sensors and personal electronics, energy harvesting technologies from various sources are gaining attention. Among energy-harvesting technologies, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) was introduced as [...] Read more.

Energy harvesting is a method of converting energy from ambient environment into useful electrical energy. Due to the increasing number of sensors and personal electronics, energy harvesting technologies from various sources are gaining attention. Among energy-harvesting technologies, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) was introduced as a device that can effectively generate electricity from mechanical motions by contact-electrification. Particularly, liquid-solid contact TENGs, which use the liquid itself as a triboelectric material, can overcome the inevitable friction wear between two solid materials. Using a commercial aerosol hydrophobic spray, liquid-solid contact TENGs, with a superhydrophobic surface (contact angle over 160°) can be easily fabricated with only a few coating processes. To optimize the fabrication process, the open-circuit voltage of sprayed superhydrophobic surfaces was measured depending on the number of coating processes. To demonstrate the simple fabrication and applicability of this technique on random 3D surfaces, a liquid-solid contact TENG was fabricated on the brim of a cap (its complicated surface structure is due to the knitted strings). This simple sprayed-on superhydrophobic surface can be a possible solution for liquid-solid contact TENGs to be mass produced and commercialized in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanogenerators in Korea)

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13 pages, 12809 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Cell Density Detector Based on Light Beam Focusing

by Aoqun Jian, Huiming Li, Yixia Zhang, Qianqian Duan, Qianwu Zhang and Shengbo Sang

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110592 - 13 Nov 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3215

Abstract

Although the lab-on-a-chip system has been successfully applied in a wide variety of fields, the goal of achieving a cell counter with simple operation, low cost, and high accuracy still attracts continuous research efforts. In this paper, the authors explore a cell counter [...] Read more.

Although the lab-on-a-chip system has been successfully applied in a wide variety of fields, the goal of achieving a cell counter with simple operation, low cost, and high accuracy still attracts continuous research efforts. In this paper, the authors explore a cell counter based on light beam focusing to measure the density of adherent cells. In this sensor, the light emitted from the optical fibers is collimated by the collimating lens formed in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The uniformly attached adherent cells act as a convex lens, focusing the collimated light propagated through them. The intensity of the focused light indicates the density of the adherent cells. For Hela cells, a detection limit of 8.3 × 10⁴ cells/mL with a detection range from 0.1 × 10⁶ cells/mL to 1.0 × 10⁶ cells/mL is achieved. This sensor is particularly useful for drug screening, cell pathology analysis, and cancer pre-diagnosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optofluidics 2018)

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12 pages, 2726 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Lubricanting Slippery Surface with Wettability Gradients for Anti-Sticking of Electrosurgical Scalpel

by Guang Liu, Pengfei Zhang, Yang Liu, Deyuan Zhang and Huawei Chen

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 591; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110591 - 13 Nov 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4514

Abstract

Soft tissue sticking on electrosurgical scalpels in minimally invasive surgery can increase the difficulty of operation and easily lead to medical malpractice. It is significant to develop new methods for anti-sticking of soft tissue on electrosurgical scalpels. Based on the characteristics of biomimetic [...] Read more.

Soft tissue sticking on electrosurgical scalpels in minimally invasive surgery can increase the difficulty of operation and easily lead to medical malpractice. It is significant to develop new methods for anti-sticking of soft tissue on electrosurgical scalpels. Based on the characteristics of biomimetic ultra-slippery surface, a self-lubricating slippery surface with wettability gradients on electrosurgical scalpel was designed and fabricated. Non-uniformly distributed cylindrical micro pillars, which constitute the wettability gradients, were prepared by an electrolytic etching process and the theoretic of the spontaneous liquid spreading process was analyzed. The silicophilic property of wettability gradients surface was modified by octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) self-assembling coat with biocompatible liquid lubricant dimethyl silicone oil. The contact angle of gradient’s surface at different temperatures was measured. The transportation behaviors of both water and dimethyl silicone oil on the wettability gradient’s surface were investigated; the results illustrate that the wettability gradient’s slippery surface can successfully self-lubricate from regions with low pillar density to regions with high pillar density, ascribed to the unbalanced Young’s force. The anti-sticking capability of the electrosurgical scalpel with self-lubricating slippery surface was tested. Both the adhesion force and adhesion mass under different cycles were calculated. The results suggest that the as-prepared slippery surface has excellent anti-sticking ability associated with better durability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microscale Surface Tension and Its Applications)

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11 pages, 2721 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cell Injection Millirobot Development and Evaluation in Microfluidic Chip

by Lin Feng, Qiang Zhou, Bin Song, Yanmin Feng, Jun Cai, Yonggang Jiang and Deyuan Zhang

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110590 - 13 Nov 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4042

Abstract

We propose an innovative design of millirobot, which can achieve donor cell suction, delivery, and injection in a mammalian oocyte on a microfluidic chip. The millirobot body contains a hollow space that produces suction and ejection forces for the injection of cell nuclei [...] Read more.

We propose an innovative design of millirobot, which can achieve donor cell suction, delivery, and injection in a mammalian oocyte on a microfluidic chip. The millirobot body contains a hollow space that produces suction and ejection forces for the injection of cell nuclei using a nozzle at the tip of the robot. Specifically, a controller changes the hollow volume by balancing the magnetic and elastic forces of a membrane along with the motion of stages in the XY plane. A glass capillary attached to the tip of the robot contains a nozzle that is able to absorb and inject cell nuclei. The millirobot provides three degrees of freedom and generates micronewton forces. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed millirobot through an experiment of the absorption and ejection of 20-µm particles from the nozzle using magnetic control in a microfluidic chip. Full article

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14 pages, 11489 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aluminum Patterned Electroplating from AlCl₃–[EMIm]Cl Ionic Liquid towards Microsystems Application

by Muhammad Salman Al Farisi, Silvia Hertel, Maik Wiemer and Thomas Otto

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110589 - 12 Nov 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6023

Abstract

Electroplating process is being used to deposit a relatively thick film of metallic materials for various microsystems applications, such as for the wafer-level bonding sealing frame and as a thermal actuator. Recently, the Al electroplating process from ionic liquid has been an attractive [...] Read more.

Electroplating process is being used to deposit a relatively thick film of metallic materials for various microsystems applications, such as for the wafer-level bonding sealing frame and as a thermal actuator. Recently, the Al electroplating process from ionic liquid has been an attractive deposition method for anti-corrosion coatings. To extend the utilization of the film, in particular for microsystems application, a microstructure formation by patterned electroplating of Al from AlCl

_{3}

–1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ((EMIm)Cl) ionic liquid is investigated in this study. The influences of each deposition parameters to the electroplating process as well as the resulting surface morphology are evaluated. Electroplated Al deposits on both Au and Al seed layers are both studied. It is also found that a recurrent galvanic pulse plating process yields in a higher current efficiency. Finally, Al electroplating on a 2 µm-trenched 100 mm-wafer is also demonstrated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Assembly and Functional Application of Nanomaterials in Microsystems)

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9 pages, 2785 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microfluidic Analyzer Enabling Quantitative Measurements of Specific Intracellular Proteins at the Single-Cell Level

by Lixing Liu, Beiyuan Fan, Diancan Wang, Xiufeng Li, Yeqing Song, Ting Zhang, Deyong Chen, Yixiang Wang, Junbo Wang and Jian Chen

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110588 - 12 Nov 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3405

Abstract

This paper presents a microfluidic instrument capable of quantifying single-cell specific intracellular proteins, which are composed of three functioning modules and two software platforms. Under the control of a LabVIEW platform, a pressure module flushed cells stained with fluorescent antibodies through a microfluidic [...] Read more.

This paper presents a microfluidic instrument capable of quantifying single-cell specific intracellular proteins, which are composed of three functioning modules and two software platforms. Under the control of a LabVIEW platform, a pressure module flushed cells stained with fluorescent antibodies through a microfluidic module with fluorescent intensities quantified by a fluorescent module and translated into the numbers of specific intracellular proteins at the single-cell level using a MATLAB platform. Detection ranges and resolutions of the analyzer were characterized as 896.78–6.78 × 10⁵ and 334.60 nM for Alexa 488, 314.60–2.11 × 10⁵ and 153.98 nM for FITC, and 77.03–5.24 × 10⁴ and 37.17 nM for FITC-labelled anti-beta-actin antibodies. As a demonstration, the numbers of single-cell beta-actins of two paired oral tumor cell types and two oral patient samples were quantified as: 1.12 ± 0.77 × 10⁶/cell (salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma parental cell line (SACC-83), n_cell = 13,689) vs. 0.90 ± 0.58 × 10⁵/cell (salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma lung metastasis cell line (SACC-LM), n_cell = 15,341); 0.89 ± 0.69 × 10⁶/cell (oral carcinoma cell line (CAL 27), n_cell = 7357) vs. 0.93 ± 0.69 × 10⁶/cell (oral carcinoma lymphatic metastasis cell line (CAL 27-LN2), n_cell = 6276); and 0.86 ± 0.52 × 10⁶/cell (patient I) vs. 0.85 ± 0.58 × 10⁶/cell (patient II). These results (1) validated the developed analyzer with a throughput of 10 cells/s and a processing capability of ~10,000 cells for each cell type, and (2) revealed that as an internal control in cell analysis, the expressions of beta-actins remained stable in oral tumors with different malignant levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microfluidics for Cells and Other Organisms)

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21 pages, 4762 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterizing Longitudinal Changes in the Impedance Spectra of In-Vivo Peripheral Nerve Electrodes

by Malgorzata M. Straka, Benjamin Shafer, Srikanth Vasudevan, Cristin Welle and Loren Rieth

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110587 - 12 Nov 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4737

Abstract

Characterizing the aging processes of electrodes in vivo is essential in order to elucidate the changes of the electrode–tissue interface and the device. However, commonly used impedance measurements at 1 kHz are insufficient for determining electrode viability, with measurements being prone to false [...] Read more.

Characterizing the aging processes of electrodes in vivo is essential in order to elucidate the changes of the electrode–tissue interface and the device. However, commonly used impedance measurements at 1 kHz are insufficient for determining electrode viability, with measurements being prone to false positives. We implanted cohorts of five iridium oxide (IrOx) and six platinum (Pt) Utah arrays into the sciatic nerve of rats, and collected the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) up to 12 weeks or until array failure. We developed a method to classify the shapes of the magnitude and phase spectra, and correlated the classifications to circuit models and electrochemical processes at the interface likely responsible. We found categories of EIS characteristic of iridium oxide tip metallization, platinum tip metallization, tip metal degradation, encapsulation degradation, and wire breakage in the lead. We also fitted the impedance spectra as features to a fine-Gaussian support vector machine (SVM) algorithm for both IrOx and Pt tipped arrays, with a prediction accuracy for categories of 95% and 99%, respectively. Together, this suggests that these simple and computationally efficient algorithms are sufficient to explain the majority of variance across a wide range of EIS data describing Utah arrays. These categories were assessed over time, providing insights into the degradation and failure mechanisms for both the electrode–tissue interface and wire bundle. Methods developed in this study will allow for a better understanding of how EIS can characterize the physical changes to electrodes in vivo. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neural Microelectrodes: Design and Applications)

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11 pages, 2422 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rapid Simultaneous Determination of Paraquat and Creatinine in Human Serum Using a Piece of Paper

by Tsui-Hsuan Chang, Kuo-Hao Tung, Po-Wen Gu, Tzung-Hai Yen and Chao-Min Cheng

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 586; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110586 - 12 Nov 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4992

Abstract

Paraquat intoxication is characterized by acute kidney injury and multi-organ failure, causing substantial mortality and morbidity. This study aims to develop a 2-in-1 paper-based analytical device to detect the concentrations of paraquat and creatinine in human serum, which can help clinicians diagnose patients [...] Read more.

Paraquat intoxication is characterized by acute kidney injury and multi-organ failure, causing substantial mortality and morbidity. This study aims to develop a 2-in-1 paper-based analytical device to detect the concentrations of paraquat and creatinine in human serum, which can help clinicians diagnose patients with paraquat poisoning in a more rapid and geographically unrestricted manner. The procedure involves fabrication of a paper-based analytical device, i.e., printing of design on a filter paper, heating of wax-printed micro zone plates so as molten wax diffusing into and completely through the paper to the other side, forming hydrophobic boundaries that could act as detection zones for the paraquat colorimetric assay, and finally analysis using ImageJ software. The paper employed a colorimetric sodium dithionite assay to indicate the paraquat level in a buffer or human serum system in less than 10 min. In this study, colorimetric changes into blue color could be observed by the naked eye. By curve fitting models of sodium dithionite in normal human serum, we evaluated the serum paraquat levels for five paraquat patients. In the sodium dithionate assay, the measured serum paraquat concentrations in patients 1–5 were 22.59, 5.99, 26.52, 35.19 and 25.00 ppm, respectively. On the other hand, by curve fitting models of the creatinine assay in normal human serum, the measured serum creatinine concentrations were 16.10, 12.92, 13.82, 13.58 and 12.20 ppm, respectively. We found that the analytical performance of this device can compete with the standard of Clinical Laboratory of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, with a less complicated sample preparation process and more rapid results. In conclusion, this 2-in-1 paper-based analytical device has the advantage of being simple and cheap, enabling rapid detection of paraquat intoxication as well as assessment of renal prognosis. Full article

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16 pages, 3618 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parametric Analysis and Optimization of Radially Layered Cylindrical Piezoceramic/Epoxy Composite Transducers

by Jianjun Wang, Lei Qin, Weijie Li and Weibin Song

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 585; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110585 - 9 Nov 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3818

Abstract

Radially layered cylindrical piezoceramic/epoxy composite transducers have been designed by integrating the excellent performance of piezoelectric/polymer composites and the radial radiation ability of cylindrical configurations, which are promising in developing novel ultrasonic and underwater sound techniques. Our previous study has explored the effects [...] Read more.

Radially layered cylindrical piezoceramic/epoxy composite transducers have been designed by integrating the excellent performance of piezoelectric/polymer composites and the radial radiation ability of cylindrical configurations, which are promising in developing novel ultrasonic and underwater sound techniques. Our previous study has explored the effects of the external resistance on the electromechanical characteristics of the transducer, and obtained some valuable findings. To clearly understand the electromechanical characteristics of the transducer and to guide the device design, in this paper, parametric analysis was performed to reveal the effects of multiple key factors on the electromechanical characteristics. These factors include material parameters of epoxy layers, piezoceramic material types, and locations of piezoceramic rings. In order to better analyze the influence of these factors, a modified theoretical model, in which every layer has different geometric and material parameters, was developed based on the model given in the previous work. Furthermore, the reliability of the model was validated by the ANSYS simulation results and the experimental results. The present investigation provides some helpful guidelines to design and optimize the radially layered cylindrical piezoceramic/epoxy composite transducers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Piezoelectric Transducers: Materials, Devices and Applications)

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21 pages, 4861 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Recent Progress on Photoacoustic Imaging Enhanced with Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Technologies

by Changho Lee, Jin Young Kim and Chulhong Kim

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 584; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110584 - 8 Nov 2018

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 6232

Abstract

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a new biomedical imaging technology currently in the spotlight providing a hybrid contrast mechanism and excellent spatial resolution in the biological tissues. It has been extensively studied for preclinical and clinical applications taking advantage of its ability to provide [...] Read more.

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a new biomedical imaging technology currently in the spotlight providing a hybrid contrast mechanism and excellent spatial resolution in the biological tissues. It has been extensively studied for preclinical and clinical applications taking advantage of its ability to provide anatomical and functional information of live bodies noninvasively. Recently, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies, particularly actuators and sensors, have contributed to improving the PAI system performance, further expanding the research fields. This review introduces cutting-edge MEMS technologies for PAI and summarizes the recent advances of scanning mirrors and detectors in MEMS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue MEMS Technology for Biomedical Imaging Applications)

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16 pages, 3306 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Mechanically-Adaptive Polymer Nanocomposite-Based Intracortical Probe and Package for Chronic Neural Recording

by Allison Hess-Dunning and Dustin J. Tyler

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 583; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110583 - 8 Nov 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4071

Abstract

Mechanical, materials, and biological causes of intracortical probe failure have hampered their utility in basic science and clinical applications. By anticipating causes of failure, we can design a system that will prevent the known causes of failure. The neural probe design was centered [...] Read more.

Mechanical, materials, and biological causes of intracortical probe failure have hampered their utility in basic science and clinical applications. By anticipating causes of failure, we can design a system that will prevent the known causes of failure. The neural probe design was centered around a bio-inspired, mechanically-softening polymer nanocomposite. The polymer nanocomposite was functionalized with recording microelectrodes using a microfabrication process designed for chemical and thermal process compatibility. A custom package based upon a ribbon cable, printed circuit board, and a 3D-printed housing was designed to enable connection to external electronics. Probes were implanted into the primary motor cortex of Sprague-Dawley rats for 16 weeks, during which regular recording and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement sessions took place. The implanted mechanically-softening probes had stable electrochemical impedance spectra across the 16 weeks and single units were recorded out to 16 weeks. The demonstration of chronic neural recording with the mechanically-softening probe suggests that probe architecture, custom package, and general design strategy are appropriate for long-term studies in rodents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neural Microelectrodes: Design and Applications)

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14 pages, 1198 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Balancing Act in Ferroelectric Transistors: How Hard Can It Be?

by Raymond J. E. Hueting

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 582; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110582 - 7 Nov 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4036

Abstract

For some years now, the ever continuing dimensional scaling has no longer been considered to be sufficient for the realization of advanced CMOS devices. Alternative approaches, such as employing new materials and introducing new device architectures, appear to be the way to go [...] Read more.

For some years now, the ever continuing dimensional scaling has no longer been considered to be sufficient for the realization of advanced CMOS devices. Alternative approaches, such as employing new materials and introducing new device architectures, appear to be the way to go forward. A currently hot approach is to employ ferroelectric materials for obtaining a positive feedback in the gate control of a switch. This work elaborates on two device architectures based on this approach: the negative-capacitance and the piezoelectric field-effect transistor, i.e., the NC-FET (negative-capacitance field-effect transistor), respectively

π

-FET. It briefly describes their operation principle and compares those based on earlier reports. For optimal performance, the adopted ferroelectric material in the NC-FET should have a relatively wide polarization-field loop (i.e., “hard” ferroelectric material). Its optimal remnant polarization depends on the NC-FET architecture, although there is some consensus in having a low value for that (e.g., HZO (Hafnium-Zirconate)).

π

-FET is the piezoelectric coefficient, hence its polarization-field loop should be as high as possible (e.g., PZT (lead-zirconate-titanate)). In summary, literature reports indicate that the NC-FET shows better performance in terms of subthreshold swing and on-current. However, since its operation principle is based on a relatively large change in polarization the maximum speed, unlike in a

π

-FET, forms a big issue. Therefore, for future low-power CMOS, a hybrid solution is proposed comprising both device architectures on a chip where hard ferroelectric materials with a high piezocoefficient are used. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Miniaturized Transistors)

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9 pages, 2714 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel One-Transistor Dynamic Random-Access Memory (1T DRAM) Featuring Partially Inserted Wide-Bandgap Double Barriers for High-Temperature Applications

by Myeongsun Kim, Jongmin Ha, Ikhyeon Kwon, Jae-Hee Han, Seongjae Cho and Il Hwan Cho

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110581 - 7 Nov 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4045

Abstract

These days, the demand on electronic systems operating at high temperature is increasing owing to bursting interest in applications adaptable to harsh environments on earth, as well as in the unpaved spaces in the universe. However, research on memory technologies suitable to high-temperature [...] Read more.

These days, the demand on electronic systems operating at high temperature is increasing owing to bursting interest in applications adaptable to harsh environments on earth, as well as in the unpaved spaces in the universe. However, research on memory technologies suitable to high-temperature conditions have been seldom reported yet. In this work, a novel one-transistor dynamic random-access memory (1T DRAM) featuring the device channel with partially inserted wide-bandgap semiconductor material toward the high-temperature application is proposed and designed, and its device performances are investigated with an emphasis at 500 K. The possibilities of the program operation by impact ionization and the erase operation via drift conduction by a properly high drain voltage have been verified through a series of technology computer-aided design (TCAD) device simulations at 500 K. Analyses of the energy-band structures in the hold state reveals that the electrons stored in the channel can be effectively confined and retained by the surrounding thin wide-bandgap semiconductor barriers. Additionally, for more realistic and practical claims, transient characteristics of the proposed volatile memory device have been closely investigated quantifying the programming window and retention time. Although there is an inevitable degradation in state-1/state-0 current ratio compared with the case of room-temperature operation, the high-temperature operation capabilities of the proposed memory device at 500 K have been confirmed to fall into the regime permissible for practical use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Based Micro/Nano Devices)

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17 pages, 2822 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Developments for Flexible Pressure Sensors: A Review

by Fenlan Xu, Xiuyan Li, Yue Shi, Luhai Li, Wei Wang, Liang He and Ruping Liu

Micromachines 2018, 9(11), 580; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi9110580 - 7 Nov 2018

Cited by 268 | Viewed by 25030

Abstract

Flexible pressure sensors are attracting great interest from researchers and are widely applied in various new electronic equipment because of their distinct characteristics with high flexibility, high sensitivity, and light weight; examples include electronic skin (E-skin) and wearable flexible sensing devices. This review [...] Read more.

Flexible pressure sensors are attracting great interest from researchers and are widely applied in various new electronic equipment because of their distinct characteristics with high flexibility, high sensitivity, and light weight; examples include electronic skin (E-skin) and wearable flexible sensing devices. This review summarizes the research progress of flexible pressure sensors, including three kinds of transduction mechanisms and their respective research developments, and applications in the fields of E-skin and wearable devices. Furthermore, the challenges and development trends of E-skin and wearable flexible sensors are also briefly discussed. Challenges of developing high extensibility, high sensitivity, and flexible multi-function equipment still exist at present. Exploring new sensing mechanisms, seeking new functional materials, and developing novel integration technology of flexible devices will be the key directions in the sensors field in future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section A：Physics)

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