Material, structural design, and post-processing strategies for strain-insensitive stretchable temperature sensors

This review provides a comprehensive survey of contemporary strategies for minimizing signal crosstalk in resistive temperature sensors, with particular focus on engineering approaches that achieve strain insensitivity. The discussion is structured to parallel the central themes of material selection, geometric structural design, and post-fabrication processing. First, the review categorizes conductive materials, including carbon-based nanomaterials, metallic nanostructures, and conductive polymers, highlighting how their intrinsic properties and structural forms determine sensor performance in terms of conductivity, flexibility, and mechanical robustness. The role of geometry-inspired designs, such as serpentine, multipolygonal, and Kirigami architectures, in enhancing mechanical compliance and contributing to the decoupling of thermal and mechanical signals is examined. Additionally, recent advances in post-fabrication processes, including welding, soldering, and surface treatments, are evaluated for their roles in maintaining long-term electrical stability and device reliability. By systematically integrating these multidisciplinary engineering strategies, this review delineates practical design principles for the advancement of next-generation resistive temperature sensors and provides a foundation for the robust integration of flexible electronics into a broad spectrum of emerging application domains. These insights are expected to accelerate innovation in wearable technology and other emerging fields, paving the way for the development of reliable, high-performance, flexible sensing systems.