Printed and flexible electronics enable the development of a new generation of sensors, smart objects and electronic devices by depositing functional materials directly onto flexible, lightweight, low-cost and unconventional substrates.
Our research focuses on the design, fabrication and metrological characterization of printed sensors and electronic devices, with particular attention to resistive and capacitive sensors, flexible substrates, paper-based electronics, conductive inks and printed measurement circuits.
The research combines electronic measurement science, sensor design, printing technologies and materials characterization, with the aim of developing reliable printed sensing systems for biomedical, industrial, wearable and smart-object applications.
Printed Sensors and Smart Objects
Printing technologies make it possible to integrate sensing capabilities directly onto objects and surfaces, transforming conventional components into smart objects capable of measuring physical or chemical quantities.
Our research investigates printed resistive and capacitive sensors fabricated using different additive manufacturing approaches and functional materials. Particular attention is devoted to the influence of the printing process, geometry, substrate and conductive material on sensor performance.
Research topics include:
- printed resistive sensors
- printed capacitive sensors
- flexible and conformable sensors
- printed strain and temperature sensors
- printed measurement circuits
- smart objects and Industry 4.0 applications
- additive manufacturing of sensors
Flexible and Unconventional Substrates
A major research topic concerns the fabrication of sensors and electronic structures on flexible, polymeric, paper-based and three-dimensional substrates.
Printing directly on these materials enables sensors to be integrated into objects without requiring conventional printed circuit boards or rigid electronic assemblies.
Research activities include the study of:
- flexible polymeric substrates
- cellulose and paper-based electronics
- three-dimensional and non-planar surfaces
- temperature-sensitive substrates
- smart packaging
- wearable and biomedical devices
The electrical, mechanical and geometrical properties of the printed structures are characterized to evaluate their suitability for measurement applications.
Functional Materials and Printed Conductive Structures
The performance of printed sensors strongly depends on the interaction between functional inks, printing parameters, geometry, substrate properties and post-processing techniques.
Our research investigates conductive and functional materials including silver-based inks and emerging nanomaterials such as MXenes, together with different deposition and curing processes.
Electrical resistance, resistivity, temperature coefficient of resistance, geometrical accuracy, mechanical stability and sensor sensitivity are experimentally characterized to assess the measurement performance of the resulting devices.
Printed Wheatstone Bridges and Measurement Circuits
Printed resistive sensors are particularly attractive for strain, force, pressure and deformation measurements. However, the relatively large fabrication tolerances of printing technologies can introduce significant resistance mismatch.
Recent research therefore focuses on printed Wheatstone bridges and balancing techniques for high-tolerance printed resistive sensors, with the aim of improving measurement accuracy while maintaining the advantages of additive fabrication.
This activity includes full and half Wheatstone bridge configurations, printed resistive elements and electronic balancing strategies specifically designed for printed sensors.
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Resistive Sensors for Smart Objects: Analysis on Printing Techniques
P. Bellitti, M. Borghetti, E. Cantù, E. Sardini, M. Serpelloni
IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 71, 2022.
This work analyzes printing technologies for the fabrication of resistive sensors integrated into smart objects, considering manufacturing approaches, functional materials and their potential for Industry 4.0 applications.
DOI: 10.1109/TIM.2022.3181941 | Download PDF
Printed Smart Devices on Cellulose-Based Materials by Means of Aerosol-Jet Printing and Photonic Curing
M. Serpelloni, E. Cantù, M. Borghetti, E. Sardini
Sensors, 20, 841, 2020.
The study demonstrates the fabrication of printed electronic devices and sensors directly on cellulose-based substrates, including paper and cardboard, combining additive printing and photonic curing.
DOI: 10.3390/s20030841 | Download PDF
Paper Sensors for Advanced Smart Packaging: Route to Detection on the Shelf and in Real Ambient
E. Musaev, E. Cantù, M. Soprani, M. Serpelloni, E. Sardini, A. Ponzoni, C. De Angelis, C. Baratto
IEEE Sensors Journal, 24, pp. 31598–31605, 2024.
This work investigates paper-based sensors for advanced smart packaging, focusing on their behavior and sensing capabilities under realistic environmental conditions.
DOI: 10.1109/JSEN.2024.3401248 | Download PDF
Optimization of Piezo-Driven Jet Valve Dispensing Process for the Geometrical Control of Printed Sensors Based on Silver and MXene Inks
M. Borghetti, V. Nicolosi, E. Sardini, M. Serpelloni, D. Spurling
IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 73, 2024.
The work investigates manufacturing process optimization and geometrical control of printed sensors fabricated using silver and MXene functional inks.
DOI: 10.1109/TIM.2023.3331397 | Download PDF
Novel Method for Balancing Full Wheatstone Bridge for High-Tolerance Resistive Sensors
M. Borghetti, O. Casas, E. Sardini, M. Serpelloni
IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 74, 2025.
This work proposes a balancing approach specifically addressing large resistance tolerances, with particular relevance to printed resistive sensors and printed measurement circuits.
DOI: 10.1109/TIM.2025.3586341 | Download PDF
Voltage-Based Balancing Technique for Half Printed Wheatstone Bridges
M. Borghetti, E. Sardini, M. Serpelloni
Measurement, 260, 119809, 2026.
This recent work develops a voltage-based balancing technique for half Wheatstone bridges specifically conceived for printed resistive sensing structures.
DOI: 10.1016/j.measurement.2025.119809 | Download PDF
Selected Conference Papers
Printed Soft Capacitive Sensor for Fingertip Contact Monitoring
P. Bellitti, M. Borghetti, E. Sardini, M. Serpelloni
2025 IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Industry 4.0 and IoT, pp. 151–156, 2025.
The work presents a printed soft capacitive sensor designed for fingertip contact monitoring and represents a recent development in flexible printed sensing.
DOI: 10.1109/MetroInd4.0IoT66048.2025.11121948 | Download PDF
Printed Sensors for Smart Objects in Industry 4.0
M. Borghetti, E. Cantù, E. Sardini, M. Serpelloni
6th International Forum on Research and Technology for Society and Industry — RTSI 2021, pp. 57–62, 2021.
This contribution investigates printed sensor technologies as enabling components for smart objects and Industry 4.0 applications.
DOI: 10.1109/RTSI50628.2021.9597209 | Download PDF
Preliminary Assessment of Printed Strain Gauges for Instrumented Bioreactors
G. Bonomi, M. Serpelloni, B. Masante, G. Putame, S. Gabetti, D. Massai
2026 IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Industry 4.0 and IoT, 2026.
This recent study investigates printed strain gauges as sensing elements for instrumented bioreactors, extending printed electronics to biomedical and biomechanical measurement applications.
Preliminary Study on Capacitive Humidity Sensors Printed on Automotive Polymer Parts
M. Borghetti, P. Bellitti, M. Serpelloni
2026 IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Automotive — MetroAutomotive 2026, 2026.
The study investigates capacitive humidity sensors printed directly onto polymer automotive components, illustrating the integration of sensing functions on unconventional three-dimensional substrates.
Related Research Areas
The fabrication processes and technologies used for these devices are further investigated in Aerosol Jet Printing and Additive Manufacturing of Sensors.
Printed electrochemical and ion-selective devices are presented in Printed Electrochemical, Biosensors and Ion-Selective Sensors.
A complete list of journal articles and conference papers is available in the Publications section.