Piezoelectric strain sensor with high sensitivity and high stretchability based on kirigami design cutting

Abstract

Wearable technology requires high-performance sensors with properties such as small size, flexibility, and wireless communication. Stretchability, sensitivity, and tunability are crucial sensor properties; stretchability and sensitivity ensure user comfort and accurate sensing performance, while tunability is essential for implementing sensors in diverse applications with different ranges of motion. In this study, we developed a high performance kirigami piezoelectric strain sensor. Using finite element analysis, the sensing performance was evaluated, and the kirigami patterns were optimized. The electromechanical properties of sensors with four different kirigami patterns were analyzed. A sensor voltage measurement circuit was also designed, amplifying the output voltage 86.5 times by improving measurement accuracy. A piezoelectric kirigami sensor was constructed with a sensitivity of 9.86 V/cm2 and a stretchability of 320.8%, higher than those of previously reported kirigami piezoelectric strain sensors. Finally, the fabricated sensor was successfully applied in a haptic glove for playing musical instruments.