Wearable and Semitransparent Pressure-Sensitive Light-Emitting Sensor Based on Electrochemiluminescence

Tactile sensors are being researched as a key technology for developing an electronic skin and a wearable display, which have recently been attracting much attention. However, to develop a next-generation wearable tactile sensor, it is necessary to implement an interactive display that responds immediately to external stimuli. Herein, a wearable and semitransparent pressure-sensitive light-emitting sensor (PLS) based on electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is successfully implemented with visual alarm functions to prevent damage to the human body from external stimuli. The PLS is fabricated with a very simple structure using the ECL gel as the light-emitting layer and a carbon nanotube embedded polydimethylsiloxane as the electrode. The ECL light-emitting layer using a redox reaction is advantageous for the fabrication of next-generation wearable devices due to the advantages of a simple structure and the use of electrodes without work function limitation. The PLS can display various external stimuli immediately and operate at a high luminance, making it safe to use as a wearable sensor. Therefore, the PLS using ECL can be a simple and meaningful solution for next-generation wearable tactile sensors.