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About

Donghee Kang is a leading researcher at the forefront of wearable human-machine interfaces (HMIs), specializing in soft sensors and actuators that bridge the gap between humans and machines. Their work centers on developing advanced tactile and haptic systems, with a particular focus on triboelectric and piezo-ionic materials that enable self-powered, highly sensitive sensing capabilities. Kang’s major contributions include pioneering frequency-selective acoustic and haptic smart skins for dual-mode dynamic/static HMIs, which achieved 128 citations, and developing high-performance flexible pressure sensors using hierarchical micro/nanostructures (65 citations). Their most impactful work, a comprehensive review on soft sensors and actuators for wearable HMIs published in 2024, has already garnered 208 citations, underscoring its significance in the field. Kang has also made notable strides in bio-inspired design, creating a self-powered triboelectric acoustic sensor modeled after the human cochlea, and developing bilayer piezo-ionic sensors with self-healing capabilities for detecting dynamic, static, and directional forces. With over 450 total citations across their key publications, Kang’s innovative materials and device architectures are shaping the future of electronic skins, healthcare monitoring, and robotic interfaces, making them a rising star in soft electronics and human-machine interaction research.