Biodegradable, Flexible and Transparent Tactile Pressure Sensor Based on Rubber Leaf Skeletons

Capacitive sensors have many applications in tactile sensing, human-machine interfaces, on-body sensors, and patient monitoring. Particularly in biomedical applications, it would be beneficial if the sensor is disposable and readily degradable for efficient recycling. In this study, we report a biodegradable capacitive tactile pressure sensor based on sustainable and bio resourced materials. Silver-nanowire-coated rubber tree leaf skeletons are used as transparent and flexible electrodes while a biodegradable clear tape is used as the dielectric layer. The fabricated sensor is sensitive and can respond to low pressures (7.9 mN when pressed with a probe with a surface area of 79 mm(2) / 0.1 kPa) ranging to relatively high pressures (37 kPa), with a sensitivity up to approximate to 4.5 x 10(-3) kPa(-1). Owing to all bio resourced constituents, the sensor is biodegradableand does not create electronic waste.

Automated summary

A biodegradable capacitive tactile pressure sensor based on sustainable and bio resourced materials has been developed in this study. The sensor is sensitive and can respond to both low and high pressures, and it does not create electronic waste.