Experts Develop Electronic Skin Integrated with Supercapacitors and Tension Sensors, Simulating the Sensory Functions of Real Skin.
Illustration of multifunctional electronic skin. (Photo: MIT).
Lan Wei, a professor at the School of Physical Science and Technology of Lanzhou University, along with colleagues, has developed a type of transparent and flexible self-powered electronic skin that can monitor subtle human activities, reported CGTN on February 23. Wei noted that the new material holds great promise for applications in various fields such as smart healthcare, human-machine interaction, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence.
The electronic skin integrates a supercapacitor made from soft and transparent materials, serving as an energy storage device with tension sensors that are also transparent and elastic. “Thanks to its mechanical softness, the electronic skin can be directly attached to different areas of the body to monitor human activity,” Wei explained.
The supercapacitor utilizes oxygen-deficient molybdenum oxide nanowires and cellulose nanofiber composites as paper electrodes, achieving high transparency and good energy storage capacity to power the sensors.
As the largest organ of the human body, skin performs many vital functions such as protection, respiration, sweating, temperature regulation, and sensory stimulation. Skin forms the basis for human physical interactions with the external world.
Ideal electronic skin should be highly sensitive, self-powered, compatible with human skin, and transparent for aesthetic or imaging purposes. “Electronic skin is at the core of future wearable electronic devices, holding great promise. For instance, it could help doctors operate surgical robots more precisely, allow loved ones to ‘touch’ from a distance, and provide a more immersive gaming experience,” Wei stated.
Tests have shown that the new electronic skin performs well in terms of flexibility, transparency, electrochemical properties, and sensitivity. After charging, it can simulate the sensory functions of real skin. The electronic skin can be applied to real skin to monitor subtle bodily signals as well as real-time activities, such as pulse, swallowing actions, and body movements.
In the near future, the research team will focus on improving the sensing and energy supply capabilities of the electronic skin, making it more similar to human skin and suitable for a wider range of applications.
