High resolution E-jet printed temperature sensor on artificial skin

Abstract

<p>Skin-conformable electronics research field has grown rapidly during the recent years. Body monitoring systems are shrinking in size and integrating more seamlessly with the human skin. To make these monitoring systems feasible options, new suitable materials and manufacturing processes needs to be studied. This paper presents materials and a simple fabrication process for skin-conformable, E-jet printed silver temperature sensors. Utilizing printing processes and biodegradable substrate materials, the skin-conformable electronics may become attractive for disposable systems by decreasing the manufacturing costs and reducing the amount of waste materials. In this study, the temperature sensors are fabricated with E-jet printed silver nanoparticle ink and the printing is done on a bacterial nanocellulose substrate. During the characterization, the silver temperature sensors were able to reach more than 0.06 % resistance change per degree Celsius sensitivity and they exhibited positive temperature dependence.</p>