Chinese scientists have developed an ionic “skin” for soft robots and bioelectronics that can operate in extreme conditions. The material withstands vacuum, saline solution and heating to 200°C while maintaining a stable electrical signal even under exposure to organic solvents.
A sensitive “skin” is needed by robots for precise interaction with objects and the surrounding environment, especially with fragile items. The new development makes such sensors significantly more durable.
The material withstood more than 50,000 stretching cycles to 200% without damage. Its structure prevents delamination, and under strong deformation its stiffness increases by up to 59 times. Such a “skin” could, for example, allow a soft robot to carefully handle parts in hot industrial settings or work with objects in water without losing tactile sensitivity.
