Perovskites for tactile sensors

Abstract High performance tactile sensors are critically needed for the development of humanoids and robots for application in space travel and exploration, and working in challenging environments. The high performance if coupled with self-powered capabilities will significantly enhance their cost effectiveness due to reduced power requirements and hence lowering their payload for functioning. Organolead halide-based perovskites, specifically methylammonium lead iodide couples semiconducting properties with polarization effects and hence provides the opportunity of harnessing light energy in a simple structure. Utilizing these properties, we discuss a high performance tactile sensor based on methylammonium lead iodide, which is has linear response over a large operating stress range with high sensitivity. Further, it can be operated continuously using just light illumination based on internal polarization effects.