Simona Petroni

Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Italian Institute of Technology

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About

Simona Petroni is a leading researcher in flexible microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), with a focus on tactile sensing and energy harvesting using piezoelectric materials. Her work centers on integrating polycrystalline aluminum nitride (AlN) onto flexible polymer substrates, such as Kapton, to create soft, conformable sensors that can detect both piezoelectric and capacitive signals under mechanical stress. This dual-mode sensing capability is a major contribution, enabling self-powered force sensors that operate without external power supplies—a critical advantage for wearable electronics and biomedical applications. Her most cited work, "Tactile multisensing on flexible aluminum nitride" (2012, 30 citations), demonstrates the foundational principle of using AlN on flexible substrates for elastic tactile sensors. Subsequent papers, including "Flexible Force Sensor Based on C-axis Oriented Aluminum Nitride" (2014, 7 citations) and "Piezoelectric soft MEMS for tactile sensing and energy harvesting" (2014, 4 citations), extend this technology to force sensing and energy harvesting, highlighting the versatility of soft AlN MEMS. Petroni’s innovations are paving the way for next-generation, flexible electronic skins and autonomous microdevices, making her a key figure in the advancement of soft, energy-efficient sensor systems.