Detecting Magnetic Fields with Printed Magnetoresistive Sensors on Rigid and Flexible Substrates

The development of functional printable materials enables the production of electronic components in unconventional materials and different form factors[1]. Here, we show magnetically sensitive inks/pastes based on magnetoresistive powder that can be printed via stencil, dispenser, or screen printing. We employ bismuth microparticles[2] as well as [Co/Cu], [Py/Cu],[3] and permalloy [4] flakes showing giant, anisotropic, or non-saturating large magnetoresistance, respectively.

We demonstrate that magnetic field sensors based on various types of magnetoresistive flakes can be printed onto rigid, flexible, and deformable substrates. We employed block-copolymers and elastic binders to enable mechanical resilience of these sensors: they can withstand bending down to 16 µm, 100% of stretching, and bending for hundreds of cycles without losing functionality.[3]

Additionally, by automatizing the dispenser printing process of bismuth-based pastes, we demonstrate the production of fully printed magnetic field sensors. The use of a micro-optically optimized high-power diode laser array provided a versatile approach for selective sintering of sensors over flexible foils in areas exceeding several square centimeters. In this work we experimentally confirm that such sensors retain their non-saturating magnetoresistive performance (MR = 146%) in high field conditions, allowing operation above 5 T. [2]

Our printed magnetic field sensors can be used to create interfaces that are responsive to magnetic fields through remote human input. Being flexible, they can be laminated on the skin, or stuck onto any object, from a desk to a house wall. We demonstrate the capabilities of printed magnetic field sensors to work as an interface to navigate through digital maps, as input panels for smart home applications, and as interactive wallpapers.

[1] A. Kamyshny, et al. 1905279 (2020) *Chem. Soc. Rev.* **48**, 1712 (2019)

[2] E.S. Oliveros-Mata, et al. *Appl. Phys. A* **127,** 280 (2021)

[3] M. Ha, et al. *Adv. Mater.* **33,** 2005521 (2021)

[4] E.S. Oliveros‐Mata, E. S., C. Voigt, et al. *Adv. Mater. Technol.* 2200227 (2022)