Skin‐Inspired Relative Elastic Contact Coefficient Toward Electroluminescent Tactus

J Jihan Qu (College of Chemistry and Materials Science Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Supramolecular Coordination Materials and Applications Su Bingtian Center For Speed Research and Training Jinan University Guangzhou P. R. China) Y Yongtao Tang R Renjie Zhou (Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong) T Ting Xiao M Miaorong Lin (College of Chemistry and Materials Science Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Supramolecular Coordination Materials and Applications Su Bingtian Center For Speed Research and Training Jinan University Guangzhou P. R. China) Z Zilong He Y Yanlin Song J Jianxin Meng (College of Chemistry and Materials Science Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Supramolecular Coordination Materials and Applications Su Bingtian Center For Speed Research and Training Jinan University Guangzhou P. R. China) L Li Niu F Fengyu Li

Abstract

ABSTRACT Skin perceives touch by transmitting mechanical stimuli through a hierarchically organized, gradient‐modulus architecture that concentrates stress and localizes deformation to activate mechanoreceptors. Inspired by the hierarchical architecture of skin, modulus engineering has been introduced into artificial tactile systems. However, how stress transmission governs internal electric‐field distributions‐and how the coupling can be exploited for intelligent tactile perception‐remain largely unexplored. Here we report a skin‐inspired, gradient‐modulus electroluminescent pressure display that directly converts mechanical inputs into spatially resolved optical signals. Guided by Hertzian contact theory, we uncover gradient‐modulus‐induced stress focusing and deformation localization, which in turn redistributes the internal electric field and sensitizes the emissive layer to pressure. This mechano‐electro‐optical coupling enables intuitive visualization of tactile stimuli. Furthermore, the resulting spatiotemporal luminescence patterns provide rich information for intelligent tactile recognition. Our results establish a general strategy to bridge mechanical perception and optical output, offering a conceptual route toward visualized electronic skin and next‐generation human‐machine interfaces.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 1, Issue 1
Published July 22, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (10)

J

Jihan Qu

College of Chemistry and Materials Science Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Supramolecular Coordination Materials and Applications Su Bingtian Center For Speed Research and Training Jinan University Guangzhou P. R. China

Y

Yongtao Tang

R

Renjie Zhou

Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

T

Ting Xiao

M

Miaorong Lin

College of Chemistry and Materials Science Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Supramolecular Coordination Materials and Applications Su Bingtian Center For Speed Research and Training Jinan University Guangzhou P. R. China

Z

Zilong He

Y

Yanlin Song

J

Jianxin Meng

College of Chemistry and Materials Science Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Supramolecular Coordination Materials and Applications Su Bingtian Center For Speed Research and Training Jinan University Guangzhou P. R. China

L

Li Niu

F

Fengyu Li