A magnetorheological fluid based infinitely-regulatable triboelectric tactile sensor

Abstract

The trade-off between high sensitivity and wide detection range often limits the application of tactile sensors in complex scenarios. In this work, an adaptive triboelectric pressure sensor (MRF-TPS) is proposed, which offers highly adjustable sensing performance by introducing a magnetorheological fluid as a liquid triboelectric material. Through the reversible phase transition of the magnetorheological fluid, the MRF-TPS can quickly switch between liquid–solid and solid–solid modes. Owing to its exceptional microstructure design and efficient liquid–solid contact electrification, the MRF-TPS achieves an ultrahigh sensitivity of 46.47 kPa⁻¹ in liquid–solid mode. In the solid–solid mode controlled by a magnetic field, the great compressive resistance of the magnetorheological fluid in solid form remarkably extends the detection limit to 362 kPa. Finally, the MRF-TPS is integrated with a visual recognition module to develop an adaptive pressure-sensing system, demonstrating the broad application potential of the MRF-TPS in human–machine interactions and diversified pressure detection.