Soft giant magnetoimpedance electronics enable contact-free human–machine interactions
Abstract
Magnetic sensing enables contact-free, three-dimensional human–machine interactions (HMI) with high selectivity and resilience to environmental noise. However, conventional magnetic films, mostly obtained via vacuum deposition, remain constrained by rigidity, instantaneous response, and single-mode. Here, we report a giant magnetoimpedance ionogel (GelGMI) in which electrostatically self-assembled ferromagnetic (FM) domains are uniformly dispersed in a soft ionogel matrix. Under a magnetic field, domain moments realign to reconfigure ionic pathways, yielding pronounced magnetoimpedance while maintaining performance at >1,000% strain and across orientations. The hysteretic relaxation of domain magnetization imparts retrospective neuron-like temporal summation, realizing sequence- and context-aware interaction. In addition, the self-healable matrix supports a complementary tactile mode whose impedance contrasts with contact-free magnetic proximity, enabling expandable and bimodal recognition. GelGMI delivers a record-high sensitivity while unifying stretchable, neuromorphic, and healable capabilities for contact-free HMI systems.
Article Details
Journal Info
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Authors (16)
Yizhang Wu
Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina
Sicheng Xing
Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina
Dingyi Yang
Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Technology Disciplines State Key Laboratory, Department of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Research, Xidian University
Yihan Liu
Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health
Chi Ding
Department of Physics, Nanjing University
Zifeng Li
Department of Physics, Nanjing University
Qizhang Jiao
Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Technology Disciplines State Key Laboratory, Department of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Research, Xidian University
Anran Zhang
Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina
Ziheng Guo
Department of Pancreatic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
Siyuan Liu
Sydney Dental School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Charles Perkins Centre
Wei Luo
Gongkai Yuan
Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina
Meixiang Wang
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University
Yong Wang
Michael D. Dickey
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University
Wubin Bai