Highly sensitive electronic whiskers based on patterned carbon nanotube and silver nanoparticle composite films

Significance Whiskers are hairlike tactile sensors used by certain mammals and insects to monitor wind and navigate around local obstacles. Here, we demonstrate artificial electronic whiskers that can respond to pressures as low as 1 Pa with high sensitivity. The active component is based on composites of carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticles that are painted on high-aspect-ratio fibers. The resistivity of the composite films is highly sensitive to mechanical strain and can be readily tuned by changing the composition ratio of the components. As a proof of concept, arrays of electronic whiskers are fabricated for real-time two- and three-dimensional gas-flow mapping with high accuracy. This work may enable a wide range of applications in advanced robotics and human–machine interfacing.