A new study out of Shinshu University in Japan describes how biomass fiber/sodium alginate aerogel (BFA)-based sensors showed excellent pressure sensitivity and durability. The researchers took inspiration from cat whiskers, according to a summary published in Phys.org.
These ultralight, porous pressure sensors can be used in pulse detection, handwriting recognition, Morse code transmission and even real-time monitoring of badminton moves, which suggests a pathway to smart wearable sports electronics, the researchers said. They can also be employed for human physiological monitoring and motions analysis in sports, said Dr. Chunhong Zhu, associate professor at Shinshu University.
Wearable electronic sensors have long been developed for health monitoring, motion analysis and human-machine interaction, but there is lately increased demand for flexible pressure sensors that can detect very subtle mechanical stimuli. Piezoresistence sensors have gained attention for such uses, but conventional designs of them suffer from insufficient sensitivity in long-term use, according to the researchers.
But carbon aerogels, including graphene, carbon nanotubes, biomass-based carbon and MXene-aerogels have emerged as promising alternatives because they are ultralight weight and provide excellent conductivity. However, their fabrication requires high temperature and energy.
Zhu’s research team addressed those concerns with cat whisker-inspired BFAs for flexible pressure sensors. "Cats, known for their exceptional agility and sensory acuity, rely highly on their well-developed sensory systems for spatial awareness," said Zhu.
"Their whiskers, or vibrissae, are robust yet highly sensitive tactile detectors, deeply embedded within special structures called follicle-sinus complexes (FSCs), which amplify and convert weak mechanical signals into neural stimuli, allowing cats to detect even the smallest pressure variations in their environment. Our biomass fiber aerogels mimic both cat vibrissae and FSCs, yielding excellent sensitivity and stability."
The research team also included Dandan Xie, a Ph.D. student, also from Shinshu University. Their study was originally published online in the journal Advanced Functional Materials on July 23, 2025.
“Our research offers a green, scalable solution for developing wearable pressure sensors, avoiding energy-intensive carbonization and or complex processing,” Zhu said.