Organic Thin Film Transistors in Mechanical Sensors

The marriage of organic thin‐film transistors (OTFTs) and flexible mechanical sensors has enabled previously restricted applications to become a reality. Counterintuitively, the addition of an OTFT at each sensing element can reduce the overall complexity so that large‐area, low‐noise sensors can be fabricated. The best‐performing instance of this is the active matrix, used in display applications for many of the same reasons, and nearly any type of flexible mechanical sensor can be incorporated into these structures. In this Progress Report, some of the flexible sensor devices that have taken advantage of these mechanical properties are highlighted, examining the advantages that OTFTs offer in the hybrid integration of local amplification and switching. In particular, the current research on resistive pressure sensors, capacitive pressure sensors, resistive or piezoresistive strain sensors, and piezoelectric sensors is identified and enumerated.