Surface Wrinkling for Flexible and Stretchable Sensors

Recent advances in nanolithography, miniaturization, and material science, along with developments in wearable electronics, are pushing the frontiers of sensor technology into the large-scale fabrication of highly sensitive, flexible, stretchable, and multimodal detection systems. Various strategies, including surface engineering, have been developed to control the electrical and mechanical characteristics of sensors. In particular, surface wrinkling provides an effective alternative for improving both the sensing performance and mechanical deformability of flexible and stretchable sensors by releasing interfacial stress, preventing electrical failure, and enlarging surface areas. In this study, recent developments in the fabrication strategies of wrinkling structures for sensor applications are discussed. The fundamental mechanics, geometry control strategies, and various fabricating methods for wrinkling patterns are summarized. Furthermore, the current state of wrinkling approaches and their impacts on the development of various types of sensors, including strain, pressure, temperature, chemical, photodetectors, and multimodal sensors, are reviewed. Finally, existing wrinkling approaches, designs, and sensing strategies are extrapolated into future applications.

Automated summary

Recent advances in nanolithography, miniaturization, and material science, along with developments in wearable electronics, have pushed sensor technology to fabricate highly sensitive, flexible, stretchable, and multimodal detection systems. Surface wrinkling, as an effective alternative, improves the sensing performance and mechanical deformability of flexible and stretchable sensors by releasing stress, preventing failure, and enlarging surface areas. This study discusses the recent developments in wrinkling structures for sensor applications, including the mechanics, geometry control, and fabricating methods. It reviews the current state and impact on various sensor types, such as strain, pressure, temperature, chemical, photodetectors, and multimodal sensors. The study also extrapolates the existing wrinkling approaches, designs, and sensing strategies into future applications.