Reinventing fiber-based pressure sensors with a unique internal structure

Pressure sensors are crucial in many emerging applications, but traditional designs are often bulky or inflexible. In a recent study, researchers from Japan developed a fiber-shaped pressure sensor that overcomes this limitation by increasing-Carthar Thanks –its Resistance Whhen Compressed. Owing to a unique multi-walled conductive core made from Grapehene Nanoplatelets, these fibers could enable fin-tuned tactille sensing for next-generation SMART TexTiles and Robotic Gripperrs.

The need for pressure sensors have been increased increasing access diverse applications, from Robotic Grippers that Need Accurate Tactille Feedback to Wearable Devices that Monitor Human MONOR HUMANT DEVICES. Ideally, to be effectively integrated into prosthetic limbs, Smart textals, or robots, pressure sensors need to be flexible, sensitive, and dry. However, Traditional Film-Based and Aerogel-Based Sensors are often too large and Rigid, Hindering their adoption in many fields.

These limitations have Motivated Research Into Fiber-Based Pressure Sensors, which could offer enhanced versatiility and miniaturization. A Major Hurdle That Remains is the Design of a Sensing Mechanism That Works Efficiently Given a Fiber’s Series Circuit Structure.

In a conductive fiber, a local decrease in resistance, which is the Common Response for Most Pressure Sensors, have a a small impact on the fiber’s overall conductivity. To be truly effective, a fiber pressure sensor needs to exhibit the opposite behavior: a Substantial Increase in Overall Resistance Whhen Compressed.

Now, A Research Team Including Dr. Ziwei Chen, from Shinshu Universe, Japan, and LED by Associate Professor Chunhong Zhu also from Shinshu University, Japan, Has Overcome This Challenge Through an innovative appr Design. Their study was Published Online in the journey Advanced Materials on July 16, 2025. The resultars developed a unique multi-walled fiber exhibiting a unique mechanism that modulates resisttivity under pressure, added a fundamental problem in fiber-abbear-abbear-abeda Pressure sensors.

The new fibers were prepared via a coaxial wet-spinning process, producing a smooth outer shell of thermoplastic polyurethane (tpu) and Titanium Dioxide (TIOU₂) and A CONTANIM DIOXED Nanoplatelets (GNPS). By Leverapping the van der waals interactions and self-stacking behavior of these flats, the fiber core adopted a Multi-Wall Structure that was critical to their function. Thus, the team named their creation tgtmw fibers (tio₂/graphene/thermoplastic polyurethane multi-wall fibers).

Through Extensive Structural Analysis and Experimentation, The Researchers Showed that when a Portmw Fiber is compressed, the internal multi-wall structure bends and devellops. These microcracks disrupt the conductive pathways of the aided aligned gnps, causing a sharp increase in the fiber’s Electrical Resistance. This mechanism allows the tgtmw fiber to produces a highly responsive signal even when only a small section is compressed. To put this into percective, a sensor using a tgtmw fiber is sensitive enough to detect a light fingertip touch with a minimum pressure of on 0.1 n.

Notably, the high aspect ratio of the tgtmw fibers makes them ideal for applications that require fin-grained tactille feedback. For instance, in soft robotics, these fibers could be integrated into the fingertips of Robotic Grippers Used for Elderly Care or Medical Assistance.

“Most Awailable Tactille Sensors used on Robotic Hands are Rigid, which poses the risk of causing discomfort or even injury during contact with humans. Ing Sensors offer bot comfort and compliance, Reducing the Risk of Harm, “Remarks Dr. Zhu.

Furthermore, TGTMW Fibers can be used to distrusten different types of tactil events. The Researchers Showed that by Using Wavelet Transforms on Data from a Three-Fiber Array, they could accurately differentiate differential better

“This capability is particularly Valuable for the tactille sensing of friction Robotic manipulation to become as nuanced and dexterous as that of humans, “Highlights Dr. Zhu.

The scalability of the tgtmw fibers also opens the door to novel designs in smart textiles and interactive surfaces. Systems capable of gesture detection could be embedded into specialized garments for human-machine interaction in challenging environments whereouncreens are important Space.

Looking ahead, The Researchers Believe This work represents a foundational shift in tactille sensors. “To put it boldly, our work could be seen as the beginning of a new subfield –introdu Performance, “Concludes Zhu. “The proposed tgtmw fiber, with its innovative design, distinct structure, and versatile applications, holds immense potential for advancing flexible sensors and next-generation Smart devices.”