Skin somatosensory system inspired gelatin-based organohydrogel electronic skin for infant hazard alarms

Multi-functional electronic skin (e-skin) demonstrates immense potential for applications in physiological monitoring and human-computer interaction. However, achieving reliable multi-modal sensing in complex environments and hazard alarms for infants remains a significant challenge. Drawing inspiration from the skin's somatosensory system, we herein present an innovative multi-modal sensing organohydrogel, fabricated by incorporating gelatin, laponite, and LiCl into a copolymer network within a glycerol/water binary solvent. The designed organohydrogel exhibits skin-like composition and modulus. Furthermore, the low-temperature induced triple-helix structure of gelatin and the presence of binary solvents, imparting excellent stretchability, thermosensitivity, and outstanding environmental tolerance. Remarkably, this organohydrogel is well-suited for gelatin-based e-skin applications, mimicking the skin's sensory functions to detect strain, pressure, temperature, and humidity. Furthermore, the gelatin-based e-skin can be integrated with a custom-designed data recognition and analysis system, enabling real-time monitoring of an infant's physiological and movement states. This capability proves particularly valuable for providing timely alerts in hazardous situations, including asphyxiation caused by chest pressure, fever, or excessive sweating. This work paves the way for the next generation of e-skin for human health monitoring and hazard detection.