Microscopic sensors with an ability to find out even minute changes in pressure have sundry applications. For instance, these sensors play a key role in the development of health-monitoring wearable devices and robots. However, the sluggish response speed, low sensitivity, poor stability, and more power consumption are some of the limitations of the majority of present transistor-based pressure sensors. Scientists at Hunan University and the University of California have developed a new strategy to offer a solution to these issues.
New Strategy to Develop Pressure Sensors with High Sensitivity
According to researchers, a new strategy holds the capability to create extremely sensitive pressure sensors. It can help in resolving a few issues faced due to the present pressure sensors. The study is open for access in the journal Nature Electronics. Furthermore, the latest strategy uses the combination of 2-D semiconductor transistors and a conductive microstructured air-gap gate (CMAG).
The research team integrated CMAGs with 2-D semiconductor transistors to create new pressure sensors with improved sensing performance. In the latest sensors, CMAGs form microstructured air gaps without any unwanted viscoelastic behavior. This makes it possible to achieve a quicker response time, advanced sensitivity, and minimum power consumption along with remarkable stability.
Yun-Chiao Huang is one of the scientists who performed the research. She stated, “Our CMAG transistor sensors hold the integration of 2-D semiconductor transistors with exclusive CMAGs. Moreover, this combination can be helpful for improved performance in various applications.” Huang and her research team’s strategy is easy to incorporate in transistor-based and capacitive sensors.
Furthermore, these advanced sensors find applications in static pressure mapping, human pulse waves’ measurement, and sound waves detection. In addition to the present applications, the promising sensitivity of these sensors paves a way for their use in the development of wearable devices for patient health monitoring. At the same time, these sensors will potentially find use in future robots with high sensing abilities.
