Hierarchical Structural–Interfacial Engineering with Dynamic Soft–Hard Cross-Linking Enables Full-Range, Ultrasensitive MXene Piezoresistive Sensors

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Authors: Jiao Li, Xiaoman Zeng, Gaofeng Wang, Juzhong Zhang, Zihan Meng, Yue Li, Xuehui Zhu, Lingxian Meng, Xueke Jiao, Xi Zhang, Shuiren Liu, Xuying Liu
Cited by: 1
References: 61

Abstract

Human tactile perception inspires flexible piezoresistive sensors, yet simultaneously achieving high sensitivity, a wide pressure range, and mechanical robustness remains challenging. Here, we report a hierarchical stress-regulation strategy that integrates multiscale surface microstructures with a dynamically cross-linked MXene/carboxymethyl cellulose/borax sensing network. Replicated microtopographies induce progressive and spatially distributed stress localization, while heterogeneous soft–hard cross-linking regulates nanoscale deformation through adaptive hydrogen bonding and rigid borate anchoring. This coupled structural–interfacial regulation generates abundant stress-concentrated sites, stabilizes conductive pathways, and enables continuous resistance modulation across a broad pressure spectrum. Consequently, the sensor exhibits ultrahigh sensitivity (774.48 kPa –1 ), a wide working range (334.16 kPa), and fast response/recovery times (8.58/17.22 ms). It reliably captures both subtle physiological signals and large mechanical loads and further supports gesture recognition and robotic control when integrated with real-time feedback and machine learning. This work establishes a general framework for designing robust, full-range tactile sensors through hierarchical stress regulation.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials Advanced Materials and Mechanics Dielectric materials and actuators

Publication details

Journal / source
Nano Letters
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Volume
26
Issue
20
Pages
6548–6559
Publication date
12 May 2026
Language
EN