MXene-Coated, Multi-Layered Mulberry Paper-Based Flexible Tactile Sensor With High Sensitivity Over a Wide Pressure Range

MXene-Coated, Multi-Layered Mulberry Paper-Based Flexible Tactile Sensor With High Sensitivity Over a Wide Pressure Range

Professor Jongbaeg Kim’s research team in the School of Mechanical Engineering, in collaboration with researchers at Kyungpook National University, developed a flexible tactile sensor that maintains high sensitivity over a wide pressure range using multiple layers of MXene-coated mulberry paper. The team dip-coated the porous fiber network of mulberry paper with MXene, a highly conductive two-dimensional material, and stacked three coated sheets to enhance pressure-induced changes in contact resistance between fibers and layers. The sensor maintained a sensitivity exceeding 15 kPa^-1 across a broad pressure range of 1–1000 kPa, reaching 245.4 kPa^-1 in the low-pressure range of 1–10 kPa. It also achieved a rapid response time of approximately 193 ms and durability over 1000 loading cycles. By integrating the sensor into gloves and wristbands, the team demonstrated monitoring of finger motion, arterial pulse, and touch intensity. Furthermore, a Bluetooth-enabled cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training system provided real-time feedback on chest compression pressure and frequency, highlighting the potential of paper-based tactile sensors for wearable healthcare and human–machine interfaces. The findings were published in the internationally renowned journal 'Small' (Impact Factor: 11.8) and featured on its front cover.

The link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smll.74205