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research article

An optical/electronic artificial skin extends the robotic sense to molecular sensing

Dai, Benhui  
•
Zheng, Yingjie
•
Qian, Yihang
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December 1, 2025
npj Flexible Electronics

Artificial skins are essential for bridging sensory gaps between robots and environments, enabling natural and intuitive interactions. While artificial skins can sense stimuli like pressure and stretchability, their capabilities need to be expanded into chemical sensing for specific applications. Here, we introduce optical/electronic artificial skins (oe-skins), advancing robotic sensing from physical perception to chemical sensation. Our design integrates optical fibers into a carbon nanotube (CNT)-based haptic electronic skin. This empowers the skin to sense force and temperature, while detecting near-infrared (NIR) optical signals from molecules, giving dual modalities of physical and chemical sensing. We successfully implement the oe-skin into robots, enabling intraocular pressure and glucose level detection for diagnosing glaucoma and diabetes. Additionally, we demonstrated their effectiveness in delicately harvesting fruits and grading them by ripeness, firmness, and sugar levels. We present a blueprint for next-generation intelligent electronics where technological progress aligns with sustainable development and societal well-being.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1038/s41528-025-00431-6
Scopus ID

2-s2.0-105013040044

Author(s)
Dai, Benhui  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Zheng, Yingjie

College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science

Qian, Yihang

College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science

Hu, Xiaoyong

College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science

Sun, Zhizhong

College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science

Ma, Zenghong

Zhejiang Sci-Tech University

Bao, Guanjun

Zhejiang University of Technology

Wu, Huaping

Zhejiang University of Technology

Luo, Xuan

College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science

Hughes, Josie  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

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Date Issued

2025-12-01

Published in
npj Flexible Electronics
Volume

9

Issue

1

Article Number

87

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
CREATE-LAB  
FunderFunding(s)Grant NumberGrant URL

National University of Singapore

Zhejiang University

CREATE Lab of EPFL

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Available on Infoscience
August 25, 2025
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/253403
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