Artificial ‘skin’ sensor could be the future of wearable and stretchable electronics, with applications in wound-healing, gaming and more
University of Toronto Engineering researchers have developed a super-stretchy, transparent and self-powering sensor that records the complex sensations of human skin.
Dubbed artificial ionic skin — or AISkin for short — the researchers believe the innovative properties of AISkin could lead to future advancements in wearable electronics, personal health care and robotics.
Since it’s hydrogel, it’s inexpensive and biocompatible -we can put it on the skin without any toxic effects. It’s also very adhesive, and it doesn’t fall off, so there are so many avenues for this material.
The adhesive AISkin is made of two oppositely charged sheets of stretchable substances known as hydrogels. By overlaying negative and positive ions, the researchers create what they call a “sensing junction” on the gel’s surface.
When the AISkin is subjected to strain, humidity or changes in temperature, it generates controlled ion movements across the sensing junction, which can be measured as electrical signals such as voltage or current.
AISkin is also uniquely tough and stretchable. Our human skin can stretch about 50 per cent, but this AISkin can stretch up to 400 per cent of its length without breaking.
The new AISkin could open doors to skin-like Fitbits that measure multiple body parameters, or an adhesive touchpad you can stick onto the surface of your hand. It could work for athletes looking to measure the rigour of their training, or it could be a wearable touchpad to play games.
It could also measure the progress of muscle rehabilitation.
Another application is in soft robotics — flexible bots made completely out of polymers. An example is soft robotic grippers used in factories to handle delicate objects such as light bulbs or food.
The researchers envision AISkin being integrated onto soft robots to measure data, whether it’s the temperature of food or the pressure necessary to handle brittle objects.
News Source: Eurekalert
