BicontinuousRubbery Semiconductors Enable IntrinsicallyStretchable Transistors for Ultrasensitive Tactile Electronic Skins
Abstract Developing high-performance elastic tactile sensing systems is crucial for prosthetic skins, soft robotics, and human–machine interfaces, yet integrating ultrahigh sensitivity, fast response, and robust mechanical compliance remains a fundamental challenge. Herein, we report an intrinsically stretchable elastic electronic skin enabled by rubbery transistors based on a self-assembled bicontinuous rubbery semiconductor. The bicontinuous morphology provides continuous semiconducting pathways for charge transport while accommodating mechanical deformation, allowing the transistors to retain high mobility even under 50% tensile strain. By coupling tactile-modulated iontronic effects with air-gap capacitance modulation, the elastic tactile sensors achieve an ultrahigh sensitivity of 4358 kPa–1, rapid response, and reliable detection of subtle tactile signals. Integrating a 5 × 5 tactile sensor array with a convolutional neural network enables accurate tactile recognition and correction of tactile inputs even under mechanical deformation. These results establish bicontinuous rubbery semiconductors as a materials-driven platform for intrinsically stretchable, ultrahigh-sensitivity tactile electronic skins.
Authors
- Junmei Hu
- Weibing Lu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6337-1739)
- Ying‐Shi Guan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6626-0599)
- Ruirui Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1898-1487)
- Jing Qiao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1263-986X)
- Xiang Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0339-5143)
- Wei‐Chen Gao
- Defeng Cui
- Yu-Dong Zhao
- Ben Fan
Institutions
- Southeast University (BD)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nano Letters
- Published
- 2026-08-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.6c02948
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Southeast University
- Basic Research Program of Jiangsu Province