Fingerprints are one of nature's most intricate and unique biometric features, with the likelihood of two individuals having identical prints being about 1 in 640 billion. Even identical twins, sharing the same genetic information, have distinct fingerprints. Now, a groundbreaking technology has emerged that can engrave unique fingerprint patterns onto electronic skin, making the probability of matching an artificial fingerprint 10²³² times lower than that of human fingerprints. A research team led by Professor Kyoseung Sim from the Department of Chemistry at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has developed advanced electronic skin that features unique wrinkling patterns. This innovation, published in Nature Communications, could usher in a new era where physical AI robots can have unique fingerprint identification capabilities. Electronic skin must be both flexible and capable of tactile sensation to function effectively. Traditional rigid inorganic materials are less suitable for this purpose, making flexible organic materials the preferred choice. The challenge lies in creating electronic skin that can both distinguish between objects and maintain unique patterns similar to human fingerprints. Professor Sim's team addressed this by developing a method to easily engrave random wrinkling patterns on styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS) electronic skin. The process involves chemically treating a flexible polymer to create the skin, followed by applying toluene solvent and rapidly spinning the material. As the toluene evaporates, the surface of the skin contracts, forming random wrinkles. The probability of these artificial fingerprints being reproduced in the exact same shape over a 1mm² area is a mere 10⁻⁴³, an astounding figure that is 10²³² times lower than the probability for human fingerprints. When scaled up to the size of a human fingerprint, the likelihood of producing the same pattern drops to virtually zero. The electronic skin developed by Professor Sim's team is not only highly unique but also resilient to physical impacts, heat, and humidity. This durability is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the fingerprint-like structure over time. When integrated into a robotic hand, the electronic skin allows the robot to grasp objects in a manner similar to humans, recognize surface textures, and even differentiate between living beings. The team demonstrated this capability by equipping a robot with temperature-sensing electronic skin, enabling it to avoid hot objects, mimicking human responses to heat. The potential applications of this technology are vast. Personalized electronic skin could enhance security and unique identification, benefiting fields such as personalized medicine, robotics, and human-machine interfaces. Soft robots with life-cycle management could also benefit, as the electronic skin could help track wear and tear, ensuring optimal performance and safety. According to Professor Sim, the straightforward process used to create these unique patterns holds significant promise. "By employing a straightforward process, we have achieved a lower probability of creating identical patterns compared to actual fingerprints," he noted. "This technology has broad potential applications in security and unique identification for future technologies, such as personalized electronic skin, soft robots with life-cycle management, and next-generation human-machine interfaces." First authors Juyeong Lee and Haechan Park from the UNIST Department of Chemistry, along with Professor Zhengwei Li's team from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Houston, contributed to this study. The collaboration between researchers from different disciplines has been instrumental in advancing the field of electronic skin. Industry Evaluation and Company Profiles Industry insiders are enthusiastic about the potential of this technology. The extremely low probability of identical patterns means that electronic skins could offer unparalleled security, particularly in highly sensitive applications such as biometric authentication in medical devices, personal electronics, and security systems. Companies investing in advanced robotics and humanoid AI are particularly interested, as this technology could bring human-like tactile capabilities to their products, enhancing both functionality and safety. UNIST, a leading research institution, is known for its cutting-edge work in materials science and technology. The university's focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, as seen in this project, positions it at the forefront of emerging technologies. Professor Kyoseung Sim's previous work has also contributed significantly to the field of flexible electronics, making him a key figure in the development of advanced materials. The University of Houston, another prominent institution, is recognized for its contributions to biomedical engineering. Professor Zhengwei Li's expertise in this area has been crucial in the design and testing of the electronic skin, ensuring its practicality and robustness. In summary, the development of unique fingerprint patterns on electronic skin by Professor Sim's team represents a significant leap forward in the field of flexible electronics and robotics. The technology's potential applications in security, identification, and human-machine interaction are poised to transform various industries and pave the way for more sophisticated and secure AI systems.