Ink-lithographic fabrication of silver-nanocrystal-based multiaxial strain gauge sensors through the coffee-ring effect for voice recognition applications

Abstract Human voice recognition techniques have remarkable potential for clinical applications because information from acoustic signals can reflect human body conditions. This paper reports the fabrication of Ag nanocrystal (NC)-based multiaxial wearable strain gauge sensors by ink-lithography for voice recognition systems. Benefiting from the one-step-device-fabrication strategy of ink-lithography, which can yield Ag NC patterns with specific dimensions and endow physical properties, the Ag NC-based multiaxial strain sensors can be fabricated on an ultrathin substrate (~ 6 μm). Additionally, the coffee-ring effect can be induced onto the Ag NC patterns to realize high sensitivity and angle dependence (gauge factors $${G}_{0^\circ }$$ G 0 ∘ = 11.7 ± 1.2 and $${G}_{90^\circ }$$ G 90 ∘ = 105.5 ± 20.1); moreover, the voice onset time for voice recognition can be detected by the sensors. These features assist in distinguishing between voiced and voiceless plosive contrasts via measurements of contact-based voice onset time differences and can act as a cornerstone for further advancements in wearable sensors as well as voice recognition and analysis. Graphical Abstract