Screen-printed CuO/LIG nanocomposite-enabled bifunctional planar micro-supercapacitors with self-sensing piezoresistive capability

This study introduces a flexible bifunctional planar micro-supercapacitor with integrated self-sensing piezoresistive capability (BPMSC-SSPC) through the development of a screen-printing ink derived from laser-induced graphene (LIG) and pseudocapacitive CuO nanoparticles. Utilizing this ink, patterned CuO/LIG electrodes are fabricated via scalable screen-printing technology, enabling the seamless integration of energy storage and pressure sensing into a single flexible platform. The resultant all-in-one device operates via a synergistic pseudocapacitive-piezoresistive mechanism, exhibiting a high areal capacitance of 6.38 mF·cm -2 , an energy density of 0.886 mWh·cm -2 , and a power density of 0.05 mW·cm -2 , alongside robust mechanical stability under deformation. Furthermore, the BPMSC-SSPC demonstrates remarkable pressure-sensing functionality, enabling precise detection of physiological signals (e.g., wrist flexion, respiration, swallowing) and facilitating advanced communication modes such as Morse code transmission. This work overcomes traditional constraints imposed by discrete energy-storage and sensing components, offering a scalable and cost-effective fabrication pathway toward multifunctional wearable systems. By bridging energy autonomy with adaptive sensing in a unified architecture, the presented platform aligns with the emerging paradigm of miniaturized, integrated, and multifunctional flexible electronics, thereby expanding the design possibilities for next-generation smart wearables and human-machine interfaces.