An adaptive ionic skin with multiple stimulus responses and moist-electric generation ability

Abstract

It is still a challenge for biomimetic skin to simultaneously achieve an exact match between the specific performance and the various stimulus recognitions of natural skin. Herein, we developed a smart ionic skin based on ion-conducting organohydrogel assemblies, which enables various stimulus responses via chemical and electrical signal transmission. This organohydrogel substrate endows the electronic skin with great transparency (93.8%), haze (27.8%), stretchability (450%), softness (8.2 mm), antifreeze (−63.28 °C), anti-dryness, conductivity, and thermal self-healing properties. The customized and kirigami-inspired pressure/strain-sensing component of the electronic skin allows excellent adaptability and high strain sensitivity. The resultant ionic skin also exhibits sensitive stimulation detection capabilities, including temperature and moisture, within wide ranges of temperature (−30–70 °C) and humidity (45–85% RH). Moreover, the spontaneous moist-electric-generating component produces a voltage potential of up to ∼0.17 V, available for imitating the energy supply station of natural skin. Such a low-cost, reliable, and sustainable ionic skin permits the potential development of complex devices on a large scale, desirable for bionic skins of robotics working under relatively harsh conditions.