Ion channel-based flexible temperature sensor with humidity insensitivity

Abstract We report an energy-efficient and mechanically durable temperature sensor with high selectivity and sensitivity. This sensor structure is inspired by ion channels in the cell membranes of living organisms that enable them to respond to temperature changes. For this purpose, a pore membrane and ionic solution are used for measuring the temperature based on the electrophoretic transport of ions. As the results indicate, we achieve a low consumption of power (8 μW/mm 2 ), high linearity (R > 0.99), and a high temperature coefficient of resistance (0.022 °C −1 ) over the specified temperature range (20–70 °C). Our sensor intrinsically exhibits high selectivity to the humidity change and high signal stability to mechanical deformation. In addition, we also fabricate a flexible 3 × 3 matrix ion-channel-based temperature sensor, and demonstrate that it is capable of highly selective, sensitive, and flexible measurement (or area mapping) of the temperature over a specified area.