Self-powered electronic skin

Engineering New technologies are transforming the way humans and machines interact. Zhao et al. developed a self-powered artificial skin capable of simultaneously converting touch stimuli into electrical signals and visible light in real time. The electrical signals can be used to drive an interactive touch operation platform for easy and intuitive control of consumer electronic devices. Electroluminescent signals provide instant visual feedback to the pressure input. The device uses the triboelectric effect to generate the electrical current, and part of the generated current produces light by exciting embedded luminescence centers. Such surface coverings can operate without an external power supply, which is important for portable or wearable electronics. Sci. Adv. 10.1126/sciadv.aba4294 (2020).