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"Developing methods for chemical sensing is of importance in broad ap­ plications, including food safety, healthcare, and ecology. The work herein describes an approach to chemical sensing by interfacial voltage. A test electrode is coated with a dielectric and a receptor. When the test electrode contacts an electrolyte, the receptor adsorbs an analyte from the electrolyte. The adsorption generates an interfacial voltage, a measurement of which reports the concentration of the an­ alyte. This design de-integrates two aspects of sensing: adsorption and detection. Consequently, the test electrode can be made of any elec­ tronic conductor. This flexibility enables sensors to be fabricated without microelectronic facilities. Several species of ions and organic molecules are detected, and a wearable chemical sensor worn on a fingertip is demonstrated. Needle-shaped electrodes are developed to test soft biological tissues. Chemical sensing by interfacial voltage holds promise for the development of ubiquitous sensing technology." 

Significance We develop temperature sensors on the basis of charges accumulated at the electrolyte/dielectric interface and dielectric/electrode interface. The accumulated charges make the temperature sensors self-powered, which simplifies circuit design and enables portable sensing. The sensors are stretchable, but deformation does not affect temperature sensing. The sensors have high sensitivity and fast response. They can be made small and transparent. Such temperature sensors open new possibilities to create human–machine interfaces and soft robots in healthcare and engineering. 

A time-varying magnetic field generates an electric field in an ionic conductor, causing ions to move and inducing an ionic current. This magnetoionic transduction enables ionotronic transformers for signal transduction between electrons and ions.