3D printed electronic skin has the ability to bend and sense

Image source: Physicists' Organization website

Scientists from the United States and India have joined hands to develop a new type of electronic skin using nano-engineered hydrogels with tunable electronic and thermal biosensing capabilities and 3D printing technology. The new skin can bend and stretch like human skin and has sensing capabilities. It is expected to be used in robots, prostheses, wearable devices, sports and fitness, security systems, and human-computer interaction. The relevant research paper was published in the latest issue of Advanced Functional Materials.

Human skin is a "bridge" connecting the brain to the outside world, providing rich feedback to the human body through touch, temperature and pressure. In the future, electronic skin is expected to be applied in many fields, such as wearable devices that continuously monitor users' vital signs such as movement, body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure.

Akhilesh Jahawar, a professor of biomedical engineering at Texas A&M University and the leader of the latest research, pointed out that in order to create electronic skin, durable materials must be developed. These materials should have the flexibility to mimic human skin, contain bioelectric sensing capabilities, and use manufacturing technology suitable for wearable or implantable devices. To this end, they developed a nano-engineered hydrogel.

The researchers took advantage of "atomic defects" in molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles to enable them to achieve high conductivity. These specially designed molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles act as cross-linkers to form hydrogels and give the electronic skin electrical and thermal conductivity.

The researchers introduced a "triple cross-linking" strategy into a hydrogel-based system. Hydrogels are easier to handle and manipulate, solving some of the problems encountered in developing electronic skin using 3D printing technology, and helping to build complex 2D and 3D electronic structures. Hydrogels also allow new electronic skins to better conform to and adhere to dynamic, wet biological surfaces, which is particularly important for healthcare.