New stretchable, self-healing and illuminating electronic material for wearables and soft robots

Nanowerk  May 30, 2020 Intrinsically stretchable optoelectronic devices such as light-emitting capacitors usually require high driving alternating voltages and excitation frequencies to achieve sufficient luminance in ambient lighting conditions. To lower the electronic operating conditions an international team of researchers (Singapore, USA – Cornell University) developed a material made up of unique blend of fluoroelastomer and surfactant. It has very high dielectric permittivity and self-healing properties, transparent, and elastic. A healable, low-field illuminating optoelectronic stretchable (HELIOS) device can turn on at voltages that are four times lower and achieve illumination that is more than 20 times brighter. Due to the […]

Creating stretchable thermoelectric generators

Science Daily  March 24, 2020 An international team of researchers (Sweden, USA – California Polytechnic University, New Zealand, Belgium) combined three materials: the conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS, a water-soluble polyurethane rubber, and an ionic liquid resulting in a composite with unique properties. The PEDOT:PSS gives it thermoelectric properties – the rubber provides elasticity, and the ionic liquid ensures softness. The material is 100 times softer and 100 times more stretchable than PEDOT:PSS. It can be printed onto various surfaces. When the surface flexes or folds, the composite follows the motion. The process to manufacture the composite is cheap and environmentally friendly. […]

A wearable device so thin and soft you won’t even notice it

Science Daily  August 2, 2019 A team of researchers in the US (UT Houston, University of Colorado) has developed a multifunctional soft stretchable HMI device based on sol-gel-on-polymer–processed indium zinc oxide (IZO) semiconductor nanomembrane electronics. Stretchable resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) for data storage components as well as field-effect transistors for interfacing and switching circuits, temperature, strain, and ultraviolet sensors are developed. The devices are constructed in an ultrathin (3 to 4 μm) and narrow meandering serpentine-shaped open-mesh configuration, which renders their mechanical stretchability (stable operation up to 30%). It collects signals from the human muscle, directly guides the robot, and […]

Advances in stretchable semiconductors, integrated electronics

Science Daily  February 1, 2019 Researchers at the University of Houston introduced metallic carbon nanotubes into a rubbery semiconductor composite enhancing carrier mobility by providing fast paths and, therefore, a shortened carrier transport distance. They developed transistors and their arrays which retained electrical performances without substantial loss when subjected to 50% stretching. Fully rubbery integrated electronics and logic gates they developed functioned reliably upon mechanical stretching. To illustrate one of the applications they demonstrated rubbery active matrix based elastic tactile sensing skin to map physical touch…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE

Method to transfer entire 2D circuits to any smooth surface

Science Daily  December 6, 2018 A team of researchers in the US (Rice University, Georgia State University) transferred a complete 2D multilayer InSe photodetector device onto a stripped optical fiber. They found that the near-field sensor effectively coupled with an evanescent field and accurately detected the flow of information inside. The benefit is that these sensors can now be imbedded into such fibers where they can monitor performance without adding weight or hindering the signal flow. They used polydimethylglutarimide (PMGI) as a device fabrication platform to etch and transfer to the target. They have developed passive sensors so far but […]

Moisture-powered electronics

Nanowerk   May 24, 2018 An international team of researchers (China, Canada) has developed a moisture energy harvesting device based on strongly hydrophilic TiO2 nanowire networks (TDNNs) containing 3D nanochannels. Electricity is generated from the diffusion of water molecules through the many 3D nanochannels in the TDNN. They have demonstrated that the device can yield an output power density of up to 4 µW cm−2 when exposed to a highly moist environment. The new type of device is successfully used as self‐powered wearable human‐breathing monitors and touch pads… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE

New graphene laser technique opens door for edible electronics

Eurekalert  February 28, 2018 An international team of researchers (USA – Rice University, Israel) reports a method of using multiple pulsed-laser scribing to convert a wide range of substrates into laser-induced graphene (LIG). With the increased versatility of the multiple lase process, highly conductive patterns can be achieved on the surface of a diverse number of substrates in ambient atmosphere. The use of a defocus method results in multiple lases in a single pass of the laser, further simplifying the procedure. Any carbon precursor that can be converted into amorphous carbon can be converted into graphene using this multiple lase […]

Palmreaders? Japan team builds second skin message display

Physorg  February 18, 2018 Researchers in Japan have invented a band-aid-like stretchable device which is one millimetre thick and can monitor important health data as well as send and receive messages, including emojis. The display consists of a 16-by-24 array of micro LEDs and stretchable wiring mounted on a rubber sheet and a lightweight sensor composed of a breathable “nanomesh” electrode, and a wireless communication module. It can be placed on the human body for a week without causing skin inflammation. It has medical applications and wearable displays… read more.