Stretchable Micromotion Sensor with Enhanced Sensitivity Using Serpentine Layout

The application of the serpentine mesh layout in stretchable electronics provides a feasible method to achieve the desired stretchability by structural design instead of modifying the intrinsic mechanical properties of the applied materials. However, previous works using the serpentine layout mainly focused on the optimization of structural stretchability. In this paper, the serpentine mesh design concept is used to transform the high-performance but hard-to-stretch piezoelectric film into a stretchable form. The serpentine layout design strategies for the piezoelectric film, which aim at not only desired stretchability but also high utilization of the strain in the piezoelectric film during deformation, are discussed with experimental and computational results. A stretchable micromotion sensor with high sensitivity is realized using the piezoelectric film with a serpentine layout. Human voice recognition applications of the sensor, including speech pattern recognition with machine learning, are demonstrated with the sensor integrated with a wireless module. The stretchable micromotion sensor with a serpentine layout illustrates the broader application of serpentine layout design in the functional materials of stretchable electronics, which can further extend the range of available functional materials for novel stretchable electronic devices.