An intelligent tactile imaging-recognition sensor system enabled via a methoxynitrobenzene-salicylaldehyde fluorescent material

Abstract

Tactile sensors utilizing functional materials decode surface textures for object recognition. Herein, we engineer a donor–acceptor fluorescent material, MNIMP, that synergizes aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) mechanisms. Contact-induced nanoflake assembly on the MNIMP film triggers fluorescence amplification mediated by the combined AIE and TICT effects, through which the surface morphology of textured objects can be accurately visualized as fluorescent patterns. MNIMP maps micro-textures of materials such as rubber, fabrics, and elastic polymers under tactile pressure with kPa-level sensitivity, seamlessly integrating visual and tactile perceptions. These fluorescent signatures can be recognized using a deep-learning model with >98% accuracy. Hardware integration with the embedded algorithm model creates an intelligent tactile sensor system performing concurrent contact imaging, data analysis, and classification. This intelligent platform demonstrates micron-scale resolution and cost-effective manufacturability while maintaining high signal fidelity across diverse target objects.

Graphical abstract: An intelligent tactile imaging-recognition sensor system enabled via a methoxynitrobenzene-salicylaldehyde fluorescent material

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Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
23 Apr 2025
Accepted
26 Jun 2025
First published
27 Jun 2025

Mater. Horiz., 2025, Advance Article

An intelligent tactile imaging-recognition sensor system enabled via a methoxynitrobenzene-salicylaldehyde fluorescent material

Z. Liu, X. Zhao, Y. Duan, Y. Li, Z. Wang, Z. Wang, J. Zhang, J. Yuan, H. Geng and T. Han, Mater. Horiz., 2025, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D5MH00731C

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