Author(s)

Jingyi Zhang

Corresponding Author

Jingyi Zhang

Abstract

Electronic skin (e-skin) is a flexible, biomimetic electronic system that mimics the tactile and physiological sensing of human skin by using distributed sensor arrays to capture external stimuli and convert them into electrical signals. Modern e-skins have evolved from single-mode devices to sustainable, multimodal platforms for health monitoring, prosthetics and rehabilitation, robotics and human–machine interaction, wearable devices, and brain–computer interfaces. This paper reviews e-skin technologies across four dimensions: (1) key performance requirements—sensitivity, flexibility/stretchability, stability/durability, and cost/processability—and the material and structural factors governing them; (2) the role of substrates, including how modulus, flexibility, surface morphology, interfacial adhesion, and thermal/environmental stability influence device performance; (3) the operating principles, characteristics, advantages, limitations, and application suitability of piezoresistive, capacitive, piezoelectric, and ionogel-based sensors; and (4) the significance, mechanisms, and challenges of multimodal sensing. Overall, appropriate material selection and microstructural design enable e-skins to balance performance and cost. Different sensing mechanisms offer distinct benefits and constraints in terms of manufacturability, linearity, power consumption, self-powering capability, and stretchability. Meanwhile, multimodal e-skins integrate complementary sensing mechanisms with decoupled signal outputs to detect multiple stimuli simultaneously. Future advancements will focus on developing intelligent, adaptable, and sustainable next-generation e-skin systems.

Keywords

Electronic skin (e-skins); Flexible sensors; Performance; Substrate materials; Piezoresistive; Capacitive; Piezoelectric; Multimodal sensing