Spiderweb-inspired flextensional transduction enables giant piezoelectric response for monitoring imperceptible biomechanical signals

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Authors: Shengjie Liu, Minqi Chen, Zhongqian Song, Weiyan Li, Huijun Kong, Shenqi Zhang, Yu Bao, Li Niu
Cited by: 3
References: 53

Abstract

Accurate monitoring biomechanical signals is critical for physiological assessment and clinical interventions, but remains challenging due to their dynamic and imperceptible characteristics. Here, inspired by the spiderweb’s ability to perceive weak mechanical perturbations, we present a flextensional transduction strategy that allows piezoelectric devices to detect slight mechanical stimulus with ultrahigh sensitivity. Finite-element simulations and experimental validations demonstrate that flextensional strain amplification and dipole reorientation in amorphous PVDF domains synergistically enable a record output voltage of 161.5 V and a power density of 153.4 μW·cm − ² under sub-Newton-level mechanical stimuli. The device allows for real-time contact force monitoring during endovascular aneurysm interventions and high-fidelity pulse waveforms acquisition for noninvasive blood pressure estimation. This bioinspired strategy establishes a universal route for transducing imperceptible biomechanical stimuli into measurable electrical signals for ultrasensitive biomedical monitoring.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials Advanced Materials and Mechanics Mechanical and Optical Resonators

Publication details

Journal / source
npj Flexible Electronics
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
10
Issue
1
Publication date
10 February 2026
Language
EN