Issue 3, 2020

Bio-photocapacitive tactile sensors as a touch-to-audio braille reader and solar capacitor

Abstract

Human–machine interfaces in emerging smart-skin technologies tend to be focussed towards high-sensitivity tactile sensing primarily with visual/numerical feedback, and research on e-skin technologies for the visually impaired is sparse. Here we demonstrate a proof-of-concept six-pixel tactile sensor that converts touch stimuli based on braille codes into an auditory output, and which could potentially be miniaturized as an ‘energy-autonomous on-skin e-braille reader’ for the visually impaired. By applying the concepts of electric double layer capacitance and bio-photo capacitance, a self-powered sensor is constructed that generates electrical signals as large as 2 V by modulating a bio-electrochemical liquid bridge between electrodes of opposite wetting characteristics. The liquid bridge, composed of photosynthetic pigment–proteins with a redox electrolyte, both augments the sensory response and serves as a standalone solar-capacitor that can generate a photocurrent as high as 140 μA cm−2, and which displays a long discharge time of ∼20 min with just ∼3 min of photo charging.

Graphical abstract: Bio-photocapacitive tactile sensors as a touch-to-audio braille reader and solar capacitor

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
09 Nov 2019
Accepted
25 Nov 2019
First published
25 Nov 2019

Mater. Horiz., 2020,7, 866-876

Bio-photocapacitive tactile sensors as a touch-to-audio braille reader and solar capacitor

S. K. Ravi, N. Paul, L. Suresh, A. T. Salim, T. Wu, Z. Wu, M. R. Jones and S. C. Tan, Mater. Horiz., 2020, 7, 866 DOI: 10.1039/C9MH01798D

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