Dual-modal piezotronic transistor for highly sensitive vertical force sensing and lateral strain sensing

Mechanical sensors are mainly divided into two types (vertical force sensing and lateral strain sensing). Up to now, one sensor with two working modes is still a challenge. Here, we demonstrate a structural design concept combing a piezoelectric nano/microwire with a flexible polymer with protrusions that enables a dual-modal piezotronic transistor (DPT) with two working modes for highly sensitive vertical force sensing and lateral strain sensing. For vertical force sensing, DPT exhibits a force sensitivity up to 221.5 N −1 and a minimum identifiable force down to 21 mN, corresponding to a pressure sensitivity of 1.759 eV/MPa. For lateral strain sensing, DPT can respond to a large compression strain (~5.8%) with an on/off ratio up to 386.57 and a gauge factor up to 8988.6. It is a universal design that can integrate vertical force sensing and lateral strain sensing into only one nanodevice, providing a feasible strategy for multimodal devices.