Flexible Graphene Field‑Effect Transistors and Their Application in Flexible Biomedical Sensing

Flexible electronics are transforming our lives by making daily activities more convenient.Central to this innovation are field-effect transistors(FETs),valued for their efficient signal processing,nanoscale fabrication,low-power consumption,fast response times,and versatility.Graphene,known for its exceptional mechanical properties,high electron mobility,and biocompatibility,is an ideal material for FET channels and sensors.The combination of graphene and FETs has given rise to flexible graphene field-effect transistors(FGFETs),driving significant advances in flexible electronics and sparked a strong interest in flexible biomedical sensors.Here,we first provide a brief overview of the basic structure,operating mechanism,and evaluation parameters of FGFETs,and delve into their material selection and patterning techniques.The ability of FGFETs to sense strains and biomolecular charges opens up diverse application possibilities.We specifically analyze the latest strategies for integrating FGFETs into wearable and implantable flexible biomedical sensors,focusing on the key aspects of constructing high-quality flexible biomedical sensors.Finally,we discuss the current challenges and prospects of FGFETs and their applications in biomedical sensors.This review will provide valuable insights and inspiration for ongoing research to improve the quality of FGFETs and broaden their application prospects in flexible biomedical sensing.

An Artificial Intelligence‑Assisted Flexible and Wearable Mechanoluminescent Strain Sensor System

The complex wiring,bulky data collection devices,and difficulty in fast and on-site data interpretation significantly limit the practical application of flexible strain sensors as wearable devices.To tackle these challenges,this work develops an artificial intelligenceassisted,wireless,flexible,and wearable mechanoluminescent strain sensor system(AIFWMLS)by integration of deep learning neural network-based color data processing system(CDPS)with a sandwich-structured flexible mechanoluminescent sensor(SFLC)film.The SFLC film shows remarkable and robust mechanoluminescent performance with a simple structure for easy fabrication.The CDPS system can rapidly and accurately extract and interpret the color of the SFLC film to strain values with auto-correction of errors caused by the varying color temperature,which significantly improves the accuracy of the predicted strain.A smart glove mechanoluminescent sensor system demonstrates the great potential of the AIFWMLS system in human gesture recognition.Moreover,the versatile SFLC film can also serve as a encryption device.The integration of deep learning neural network-based artificial intelligence and SFLC film provides a promising strategy to break the“color to strain value”bottleneck that hinders the practical application of flexible colorimetric strain sensors,which could promote the development of wearable and flexible strain sensors from laboratory research to consumer markets.

Bioinspired Ultrasensitive Flexible Strain Sensors for Real‑Time Wireless Detection of Liquid Leakage

Liquid leakage of pipeline networks not only results in considerableresource wastage but also leads to environmental pollution and ecological imbalance.In response to this global issue, a bioinspired superhydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane/carbon nanotubes/graphene nanosheets flexible strain sensor (TCGS) hasbeen developed using a combination of micro-extrusion compression molding andsurface modification for real-time wireless detection of liquid leakage. The TCGSutilizes the synergistic effects of Archimedean spiral crack arrays and micropores,which are inspired by the remarkable sensory capabilities of scorpions. This designachieves a sensitivity of 218.13 at a strain of 2%, which is an increase of 4300%. Additionally, it demonstrates exceptional durability bywithstanding over 5000 usage cycles. The robust superhydrophobicity of the TCGS significantly enhances sensitivity and stability indetecting small-scale liquid leakage, enabling precise monitoring of liquid leakage across a wide range of sizes, velocities, and compositionswhile issuing prompt alerts. This provides critical early warnings for both industrial pipelines and potential liquid leakage scenariosin everyday life. The development and utilization of bioinspired ultrasensitive flexible strain sensors offer an innovative and effectivesolution for the early wireless detection of liquid leakage.

Flexible Strain Sensors with Ultra‑High Sensitivity and Wide Range Enabled by Crack‑Modulated Electrical Pathways

This study presents a breakthrough in flexible strain sensor technology with the development of an ultrahigh sensitivity and wide-range sensor,addressing the critical challenge of reconciling sensitivity with measurement range.Inspired by the structure of bamboo slips,we introduce a novel approach that utilises liquid metal to modulate the electrical pathways within a cracked platinum fabric electrode.The resulting sensor demonstrates a gauge factor greater than 108 and a strain measurement capability exceeding 100%.The integration of patterned liquid metal enables customisable tuning of the sensor’s response,while the porous fabric structure ensures superior comfort and air permeability for the wearer.Our design not only optimises the sensor’s performance but also enhances the electrical stability that is essential for practical applications.Through systematic investigation,we reveal the intrinsic mechanisms governing the sensor’s response,offering valuable insights for the design of wearable strain sensors.The sensor’s exceptional performance across a spectrum of applications,from micro-strain to large-strain detection,highlights its potential for a wide range of real-world uses,demonstrating a significant advancement in the field of flexible electronics.

Low‑Temperature Fabrication of Stable Black‑Phase CsPbI_(3) Perovskite Flexible Photodetectors Toward Wearable Health Monitoring

Flexible wearable optoelectronic devices fabricated fromorganic–inorganic hybrid perovskites significantly accelerate the developmentof portable energy,biomedicine,and sensing fields,but their poor thermal stabilityhinders further applications.Conversely,all-inorganic perovskites possessexcellent thermal stability,but black-phase all-inorganic perovskite filmusually requires high-temperature annealing steps,which increases energy consumptionand is not conducive to the fabrication of flexible wearable devices.In this work,an unprecedented low-temperature fabrication of stable blackphaseCsPbI3perovskite films is demonstrated by the in situ hydrolysis reactionof diphenylphosphinic chloride additive.The released diphenyl phosphateand chloride ions during the hydrolysis reaction significantly lower the phasetransition temperature and effectively passivate the defects in the perovskitefilms,yielding high-performance photodetectors with a responsivity of 42.1 AW−1 and a detectivity of 1.3×10^(14)Jones.Furthermore,high-fidelity imageand photoplethysmography sensors are demonstrated based on the fabricated flexible wearable photodetectors.This work provides a newperspective for the low-temperature fabrication of large-area all-inorganic perovskite flexible optoelectronic devices.

Force and impulse multi-sensor based on flexible gate dielectric field effect transistor

Nowadays,force sensors play an important role in industrial production,electronic information,medical health,and many other fields.Two-dimensional material-based filed effect transistor(2D-FET)sensors are competitive with nano-level size,lower power consumption,and accurate response.However,few of them has the capability of impulse detection which is a path function,expressing the cumulative effect of the force on the particle over a period of time.Herein we fabricated the flexible polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA)gate dielectric MoS_(2)-FET for force and impulse sensor application.We systematically investigated the responses of the sensor to constant force and varying forces,and achieved the conversion factors of the drain current signals(I_(ds))to the detected impulse(I).The applied force was detected and recorded by I_(ds)with a low power consumption of~30 nW.The sensitivity of the device can reach~8000%and the 4×1 sensor array is able to detect and locate the normal force applied on it.Moreover,there was almost no performance loss for the device as left in the air for two months.

Wafer‑Scale Vertical 1D GaN Nanorods/2D MoS_(2)/PEDOT:PSS for Piezophototronic Effect‑Enhanced Self‑Powered Flexible Photodetectors

van der Waals(vdW)heterostructures constructed by lowdimensional(0D,1D,and 2D)materials are emerging as one of the most appealing systems in next-generation flexible photodetection.Currently,hand-stacked vdW-type photodetectors are not compatible with large-areaarray fabrication and show unimpressive performance in self-powered mode.Herein,vertical 1D GaN nanorods arrays(NRAs)/2D MoS_(2)/PEDOT:PSS in wafer scale have been proposed for self-powered flexible photodetectors arrays firstly.The as-integrated device without external bias under weak UV illumination exhibits a competitive responsivity of 1.47 A W^(−1)and a high detectivity of 1.2×10^(11)Jones,as well as a fast response speed of 54/71μs,thanks to the strong light absorption of GaN NRAs and the efficient photogenerated carrier separation in type-II heterojunction.Notably,the strain-tunable photodetection performances of device have been demonstrated.Impressively,the device at−0.78%strain and zero bias reveals a significantly enhanced photoresponse with a responsivity of 2.47 A W^(−1),a detectivity of 2.6×10^(11)Jones,and response times of 40/45μs,which are superior to the state-of-the-art self-powered flexible photodetectors.This work presents a valuable avenue to prepare tunable vdWs heterostructures for self-powered flexible photodetection,which performs well in flexible sensors.

Ultra‑Transparent and Multifunctional IZVO Mesh Electrodes for Next‑Generation Flexible Optoelectronics

Mechanically durable transparent electrodes are essential for achieving long-term stability in flexible optoelectronic devices.Furthermore,they are crucial for applications in the fields of energy,display,healthcare,and soft robotics.Conducting meshes represent a promising alternative to traditional,brittle,metal oxide conductors due to their high electrical conductivity,optical transparency,and enhanced mechanical flexibility.In this paper,we present a simple method for fabricating an ultra-transparent conducting metal oxide mesh electrode using selfcracking-assisted templates.Using this method,we produced an electrode with ultra-transparency(97.39%),high conductance(Rs=21.24Ωsq^(−1)),elevated work function(5.16 eV),and good mechanical stability.We also evaluated the effectiveness of the fabricated electrodes by integrating them into organic photovoltaics,organic light-emitting diodes,and flexible transparent memristor devices for neuromorphic computing,resulting in exceptional device performance.In addition,the unique porous structure of the vanadium-doped indium zinc oxide mesh electrodes provided excellent flexibility,rendering them a promising option for application in flexible optoelectronics.

Advances in flexible weak-light detectors based on perovskites:preparation,optimization,and application

Photodetectors with weak-light detection capabilities play an indispensable role in various crucial fields such as health monitors,imaging,optical communication,and etc.Nevertheless,the detection of weak light signals is often severely interfered by multiple factors such as background light,dark noise and circuit noise,making it difficult to accurately capture signals.While traditional technologies like silicon photomultiplier tubes excel in sensitivity,their high cost and inherent fragility restrict their widespread application.Against this background,perovskite materials have rapidly emerged as a research focus in the field of photodetection due to their simple preparation processes and exceptional optoelectronic properties.Not only are the preparation processes of perovskite materials straightforward and cost-effective,but more importantly,they can be flexibly integrated into flexible and stretchable substrates.This characteristic significantly compensates for the shortcomings of traditional rigid electronic devices in specific application scenarios,opening up entirely new possibilities for photodetection technology.Herein,recent advances in perovskite light detection technology are reviewed.Firstly,the chemical and physical properties of perovskite materials are discussed,highlighting their remarkable advantages in weak-light detection.Subsequently,the review systematically organizes various preparation techniques of perovskite materials and analyses their advantages in different application scenarios.Meanwhile,from the two core dimensions of performance improvement and light absorption enhancement,the key strategies of improving the performance of perovskite weak-light photodetectors are explored.Finally,the review concludes with a brief summary and a discussion on the potential challenges that may arise in the further development of perovskite devices.

Recent progress on stability and applications of flexible perovskite photodetectors

Flexible photodetectors have garnered significant attention by virtue of their potential applications in environmental monitoring,wearable healthcare,imaging sensing,and portable optical communications.Perovskites stand out as particularly promising materials for photodetectors,offering exceptional optoelectronic properties,tunable band gaps,low-temperature solution processing,and notable mechanical flexibility.In this review,we explore the latest progress in flexible perovskite photodetectors,emphasizing the strategies developed for photoactive materials and device structures to enhance optoelectronic performance and stability.Additionally,we discuss typical applications of these devices and offer insights into future directions and potential applications.

Efficacy of spray flushing in the reprocessing of flexible endoscopes

This article comments on the article by Du et al,who conducted a randomized controlled trial aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of a novel spray flushing system in cleaning flexible endoscopes while minimizing damage to the working channels.We share our perspective on the importance of improving endoscope reprocessing methods.The findings highlight the spray flushing system's capacity to improve cleaning efficacy while minimizing damage,suggesting that it might be important in enhancing endoscope reprocessing procedures.

Recent progress in flexible sensors based on 2D materials

With the rapid development of the internet of things(IoT)and wearable electronics,the role of flexible sensors is becoming increasingly irreplaceable,due to their ability to process and convert information acquisition.Two-dimensional(2D)materials have been widely welcomed by researchers as sensitive layers,which broadens the range and application of flexible sensors due to the advantages of their large specific surface area,tunable energy bands,controllable thickness at the atomic level,stable mechanical properties,and excellent optoelectronic properties.This review focuses on five different types of 2D materials for monitoring pressure,humidity,sound,gas,and so on,to realize the recognition and conversion of human body and environmental signals.Meanwhile,the main problems and possible solutions of flexible sensors based on 2D materials as sensitive layers are summarized.

Flexible artificial vision computing system based on FeOx optomemristor for speech recognition

With the advancement of artificial intelligence,optic in-sensing reservoir computing based on emerging semiconductor devices is high desirable for real-time analog signal processing.Here,we disclose a flexible optomemristor based on C_(27)H_(30)O_(15)/FeOx heterostructure that presents a highly sensitive to the light stimuli and artificial optic synaptic features such as short-and long-term plasticity(STP and LTP),enabling the developed optomemristor to implement complex analogy signal processing through building a real-physical dynamic-based in-sensing reservoir computing algorithm and yielding an accuracy of 94.88%for speech recognition.The charge trapping and detrapping mediated by the optic active layer of C_(27)H_(30)O_(15) that is extracted from the lotus flower is response for the positive photoconductance memory in the prepared optomemristor.This work provides a feasible organic−inorganic heterostructure as well as an optic in-sensing vision computing for an advanced optic computing system in future complex signal processing.

Design strategies and insights of flexible infrared optoelectronic sensors

Infrared optoelectronic sensing is the core of many critical applications such as night vision,health and medication,military,space exploration,etc.Further including mechanical flexibility as a new dimension enables novel features of adaptability and conformability,promising for developing next-generation optoelectronic sensory applications toward reduced size,weight,price,power consumption,and enhanced performance(SWaP^(3)).However,in this emerging research frontier,challenges persist in simultaneously achieving high infrared response and good mechanical deformability in devices and integrated systems.Therefore,we perform a comprehensive review of the design strategies and insights of flexible infrared optoelectronic sensors,including the fundamentals of infrared photodetectors,selection of materials and device architectures,fabrication techniques and design strategies,and the discussion of architectural and functional integration towards applications in wearable optoelectronics and advanced image sensing.Finally,this article offers insights into future directions to practically realize the ultra-high performance and smart sensors enabled by infrared-sensitive materials,covering challenges in materials development and device micro-/nanofabrication.Benchmarks for scaling these techniques across fabrication,performance,and integration are presented,alongside perspectives on potential applications in medication and health,biomimetic vision,and neuromorphic sensory systems,etc.

A Flexible Smart Healthcare Platform Conjugated with Artificial Epidermis Assembled by Three‑Dimensionally Conductive MOF Network for Gas and Pressure Sensing

The rising flexible and intelligent electronics greatly facilitate the noninvasive and timely tracking of physiological information in telemedicine healthcare.Meticulously building bionic-sensitive moieties is vital for designing efficient electronic skin with advanced cognitive functionalities to pluralistically capture external stimuli.However,realistic mimesis,both in the skin’s three-dimensional interlocked hierarchical structures and synchronous encoding multistimuli information capacities,remains a challenging yet vital need for simplifying the design of flexible logic circuits.Herein,we construct an artificial epidermal device by in situ growing Cu_(3)(HHTP)_(2) particles onto the hollow spherical Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x) surface,aiming to concurrently emulate the spinous and granular layers of the skin’s epidermis.The bionic Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)@Cu_(3)(HHTP)_(2) exhibits independent NO_(2) and pressure response,as well as novel functionalities such as acoustic signature perception and Morse code-encrypted message communication.Ultimately,a wearable alarming system with a mobile application terminal is self-developed by integrating the bimodular senor into flexible printed circuits.This system can assess risk factors related with asthmatic,such as stimulation of external NO_(2) gas,abnormal expiratory behavior and exertion degrees of fingers,achieving a recognition accuracy of 97.6%as assisted by a machine learning algorithm.Our work provides a feasible routine to develop intelligent multifunctional healthcare equipment for burgeoning transformative telemedicine diagnosis.

A novel algorithm of normal attitude regulation for the designed end-effector of a flexible drilling robot

An end-effector for a flexible drilling robot is designed, and a novel four-point algorithm of normal attitude regulation for this end-effector is presented. Four non-coplanar points can define a unique sphere tangent to them in spatial geometry, and the center point of the sphere and the radius can be calculated. The shape of a workpiece surface in the machining area is approximately regarded as such a sphere. A vector from the machining point to the center point is thus approximately regarded as a normal vector to the workpiece surface. By this principle, the algorithm first measures four coordinates on the curve in the drilling region using four sensors and calculates the normal vector at the drilling point, then calculates the error between the normal vector and the axis of the spindle. According to this error, the algorithm further figures out the angles of two revolving axes on the end- effector and the displacements of three linear axes on the robot main body, thus it implements the function of adjusting the spindle to be perpendicular to the curve at the drilling point. Simulation results of two kinds of curved surfaces show that accuracy and efficiency can be realized using the proposed algorithm.

Artificial Intelligence Meets Flexible Sensors:Emerging Smart Flexible Sensing Systems Driven by Machine Learning and Artificial Synapses

The recent wave of the artificial intelligence(AI)revolution has aroused unprecedented interest in the intelligentialize of human society.As an essential component that bridges the physical world and digital signals,flexible sensors are evolving from a single sensing element to a smarter system,which is capable of highly efficient acquisition,analysis,and even perception of vast,multifaceted data.While challenging from a manual perspective,the development of intelligent flexible sensing has been remarkably facilitated owing to the rapid advances of brain-inspired AI innovations from both the algorithm(machine learning)and the framework(artificial synapses)level.This review presents the recent progress of the emerging AI-driven,intelligent flexible sensing systems.The basic concept of machine learning and artificial synapses are introduced.The new enabling features induced by the fusion of AI and flexible sensing are comprehensively reviewed,which significantly advances the applications such as flexible sensory systems,soft/humanoid robotics,and human activity monitoring.As two of the most profound innovations in the twenty-first century,the deep incorporation of flexible sensing and AI technology holds tremendous potential for creating a smarter world for human beings.

An Environment‑Tolerant Ion‑Conducting Double‑Network Composite Hydrogel for High‑Performance Flexible Electronic Devices

High-performance ion-conducting hydrogels(ICHs)are vital for developing flexible electronic devices.However,the robustness and ion-conducting behavior of ICHs deteriorate at extreme tempera-tures,hampering their use in soft electronics.To resolve these issues,a method involving freeze–thawing and ionizing radiation technology is reported herein for synthesizing a novel double-network(DN)ICH based on a poly(ionic liquid)/MXene/poly(vinyl alcohol)(PMP DN ICH)system.The well-designed ICH exhibits outstanding ionic conductivity(63.89 mS cm^(-1) at 25℃),excellent temperature resistance(-60–80℃),prolonged stability(30 d at ambient temperature),high oxidation resist-ance,remarkable antibacterial activity,decent mechanical performance,and adhesion.Additionally,the ICH performs effectively in a flexible wireless strain sensor,thermal sensor,all-solid-state supercapacitor,and single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerator,thereby highlighting its viability in constructing soft electronic devices.The highly integrated gel structure endows these flexible electronic devices with stable,reliable signal output performance.In particular,the all-solid-state supercapacitor containing the PMP DN ICH electrolyte exhibits a high areal specific capacitance of 253.38 mF cm^(-2)(current density,1 mA cm^(-2))and excellent environmental adaptability.This study paves the way for the design and fabrication of high-performance mul-tifunctional/flexible ICHs for wearable sensing,energy-storage,and energy-harvesting applications.

Flexible perovskite light-emitting diodes for display applications and beyond

The flexible perovskite light-emitting diodes(FPeLEDs),which can be expediently integrated to portable and wearable devices,have shown great potential in various applications.The FPeLEDs inherit the unique optical properties of metal halide perovskites,such as tunable bandgap,narrow emission linewidth,high photoluminescence quantum yield,and particularly,the soft nature of lattice.At present,substantial efforts have been made for FPeLEDs with encouraging external quantum efficiency(EQE)of 24.5%.Herein,we summarize the recent progress in FPeLEDs,focusing on the strategy developed for perovskite emission layers and flexible electrodes to facilitate the optoelectrical and mechanical performance.In addition,we present relevant applications of FPeLEDs in displays and beyond.Finally,perspective toward the future development and applications of flexible PeLEDs are also discussed.

Ionic Liquid-Enhanced Assembly of Nanomaterials for Highly Stable Flexible Transparent Electrodes

The controlled assembly of nanomaterials has demon-strated significant potential in advancing technological devices.However,achieving highly efficient and low-loss assembly technique for nanomate-rials,enabling the creation of hierarchical structures with distinctive func-tionalities,remains a formidable challenge.Here,we present a method for nanomaterial assembly enhanced by ionic liquids,which enables the fabrication of highly stable,flexible,and transparent electrodes featuring an organized layered structure.The utilization of hydrophobic and non-volatile ionic liquids facilitates the production of stable interfaces with water,effectively preventing the sedimentation of 1D/2D nanomaterials assembled at the interface.Furthermore,the interfacially assembled nanomaterial monolayer exhibits an alternate self-climbing behavior,enabling layer-by-layer transfer and the formation of a well-ordered MXene-wrapped silver nanowire network film.The resulting composite film not only demonstrates exceptional photoelectric performance with a sheet resistance of 9.4Ωsq^(-1) and 93%transmittance,but also showcases remarkable environmental stability and mechanical flexibility.Particularly noteworthy is its application in transparent electromagnetic interference shielding materials and triboelectric nanogenerator devices.This research introduces an innovative approach to manufacture and tailor functional devices based on ordered nanomaterials.