Recent Progress in Flexible Piezoelectric Tactile Sensors: Materials, Structures, Fabrication, and Application

Abstract

Flexible tactile sensors are widely used in aerospace, medical and health monitoring, electronic skin, human–computer interaction, and other fields due to their unique advantages, thus becoming a research hotspot. The goal is to develop a flexible tactile sensor characterized by outstanding sensitivity, extensive detection range and linearity, elevated spatial resolution, and commendable adaptability. Among several strategies like capacitive, piezoresistive, and triboelectric tactile sensors, etc., we focus on piezoelectric tactile sensors because of their self-powered nature, high sensitivity, and quick response time. These sensors can respond to a wide range of dynamic mechanical stimuli and turn them into measurable electrical signals. This makes it possible to accurately detect objects, including their shapes and textures, and for them to sense touch in real time. This work encapsulates current advancements in flexible piezoelectric tactile sensors, focusing on enhanced material properties, optimized structural design, improved fabrication techniques, and broadened application domains. We outline the challenges facing piezoelectric tactile sensors to provide inspiration and guidance for their future development.