Intelligent Flexible Pressure Sensors with Improved Sensing Range and Sensitivity Based on 3D-Graphene Patterning Induced by UV Laser

Intelligent flexible sensors are an integral component of the next generation of consumer electronics. However, developing a flexible pressure sensing system that possesses both high sensitivity and a sensing range remains a key challenge in practical applications. Herein, a machine learning-assisted 3D laser-induced graphene (3D-LIG)/polydimethylsiloxane composite flexible pressure sensing system based on ultraviolet (UV) laser integrated fabrication was proposed. Low-cost LIG-based flexible sensors with a 3D carbonized structure were prepared by selective UV laser ablation and laser-induced graphitization. The interlayer interlocking structure, combined with the internal porous structure of LIG, enriches the sensing mechanism, allowing the sensor to exhibit triphasic linear response characteristics, demonstrating a large sensing range (0–500 kPa) and high sensitivity (0–20 kPa, 3.047 kPa–1). Based on machine-learning algorithms, an intelligent wearable sign language translation system was constructed capable of high-precision recognition of complex sign language sequence information. The integration of LIG with 3D microstructures allows a wider space for designing LIG-based flexible sensing structures and offers a promising platform for the development of intelligent wearable devices.