Graphene-based AI electronic skin for health and motion monitoring

Researchers from Qingdao University, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Korea Advanced Nano Fab Center (KANC) and Shandong University have developed a multifunctional electronic skin (e-skin) system based on a laser-induced graphene (LIG) composite platform. The e-skin system leverages graphene’s electrical conductivity, large surface area, and structural flexibility to achieve high-performance tactile sensing with simultaneous mechanical and thermal detection capabilities.

The e-skin architecture integrates LIG, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and silver nanowires (AgNWs) through a simplified yet efficient fabrication route, producing a hybrid conductive network with synergistically enhanced electromechanical and thermoresistive characteristics. The LIG network serves as a flexible porous skeleton capable of sustaining significant strain, while AgNWs effectively reduce sheet resistance and enhance the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR). Under tensile deformation, controlled microcrack propagation in AgNWs-bridged LIG ligaments ensures a high gauge factor (GF = 1253.51) and broad strain detection range (0–50 %), with a low detection limit of 0.1 % and rapid response time of 73 ms.

The hybrid structure exhibits a linear thermal response in the 20–100 °C range, achieving a TCR of 0.0046 °C⁻¹ and a temperature resolution of 0.5 °C, confirming its suitability for precise thermal sensing. Moreover, the e-skin maintains high signal fidelity (SNR > 20 dB) during electrocardiogram (ECG) signal acquisition, enabling the detection of pathological markers associated with hyperkalemia and myocardial infarction.

To facilitate intelligent multimodal signal interpretation, the researchers employed a bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) neural network augmented by an attention mechanism. This approach enables the system to reliably distinguish between strain-induced and temperature-driven signals in real time, supporting continuous motion tracking, thermophysiological monitoring, and cardiovascular assessment.

The proposed LIG/PDMS/AgNWs composite e-skin demonstrates a promising platform for next-generation wearable electronics by combining high mechanical flexibility, robust electrical responsiveness, and adaptive algorithmic analysis. Its compatibility with portable and AI-assisted health monitoring frameworks paves the way for advanced applications in sports science, rehabilitation, and preventive medicine.