Skip to main content

Next Generation View: Application of Electronic Skin

Prof. T. Someya (University of Tokyo, Japan) says, "Our skin display exhibits simple graphics with motion, because it is made from thin and soft materials, and can be deformed freely."

Recently, scientists and researchers were on to keep interest to develop flexible artificial electronic skin (e-skin) with human-like sensory capabilities such as temperature, pressure, displacement, pulse, electrocardiograph or tactile sensing, etc. Ideally, e-skin is waterproof, stretchable, and demonstrates the self-healing capability of typical living tissues. The development of e-skins was interconnected with various electronic devices and power modules that provide the desired functionality is actively being carried out by various research groups [1]. Even though this study on sensory functions of e-skin has remained achieved significant progress, the green energy supply for wearable electronics have remains a technical challenge. Indeed of a foldable and flexible electronic device in an ultrathin level, it reflects the bio-compatibility and affordable materials with eco-friendly.

Silk protein is a promising material for on-skin and implantable electronic devices. Even though it has good bio-degradability and biocompatibility, the poor thermal stability limits in application.

J. Huang et al., have expressed the robust and heat-resistant silk fibroin composite membranes (SFCMs), which was synthesized by mesoscopic doping of regenerated silk fibroin (SF) via the interactions between SF and polyurethane. Surprisingly, the obtained SFCMs express high transmittance (> 90%), and can endure the tensile test (> 200%) and thermal treatment (up to 160 °C) [2].

On seeing the advantages, traditional micromachining techniques, such as inkjet printing, can be carried out to print flexible circuits on such a protein substrate. SFCMs are constructed with two nanofibers (NFs) using Ag NFs and Pt NFs networks to function as heaters and temperature sensors, respectively. They have identified that Ag NFs network as the heater shows high thermal resistance, heating cyclicity, tensile stability (stretching to 75% with uniform heating distribution) while the Pt NFs network as the temperature sensor exhibits temperature sensitivity (0.205% °C−1 ), reliability, and rapid response ( < 2 s). 

Figure 1. Photographic images of the PBES attaching to the human neck and hand closely [2].

In addition, the integrated protein-based electronic skin (PBES) exhibits high thermal stability and temperature sensitivity (0.205% °C-1). This PBES (Figure 1) is also inflammation-free and air-permeable so that it can directly be laminated on human skin for long-term thermal management.

J. Yuan et al, have been supported to wearable electronics for personal healthcare and eco-friendly awareness which are attracting scenarios with great challenges. A self-powered electronic skin (e-skin) system with multiple sensations as well as data processing and data visualization was developed [3].

They have also mentioned about the core component which is a hand-shaped flexible thermoelectric generator functionalized as e-skin, which not only harvests energy from body heat to supply power for the entire e-skin system, but also plays a role of multisensory receptor. The multisensory receptor concept is been detailed with the following content:

1. Configuration of the e-skin system (Figure 2),

2. Design of F-TEG for energy supply,

3. Design of the overall e-skin system,

4. Multiple sensing capabilities of the e-skin system.

 

Figure 2. Self-powered multifunction of a hand shaped e-skin system design [3].

The research key point is the e-skin systems composed were of f-TEG and the tailor designed circuit system. The f-TEG works not only as a power generator, but also as a multisensory receptor. At first, the f-TEG was attached to a human hand which generates a voltage of about 30–100 mV by thermoelectric conversion from body heat. Then, the output voltage of the f-TEG is boosted to a voltage of 2–3 V by a boost converter liquid crystal display. It represents the first demonstration of a multisensory e-skin system consisting of self-powered sensors and sensor system powered by f-TEG, which implements multiple perceptions, data processing, and visualization.

 On the summary of smart e-skin applications,

  • PBES and its stable structure allow for worldwide applications in human–machine interactive technologies, skin-mountable devices, and healthcare monitoring.
  • An advantageous approach to enhance the sensory perception of the human hand which demonstrates promising potential of applications in the repair of skin injury, wearable healthcare devices, and robots.

 Reference:                                                                                                     

  1. M. Kaltenbrunner et al., Nature 499, 458 (2013).

  2. J. Huang et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 1910547, 1 (2020).

  3. J. Yuan et al., Adv. Mater. Technol. 2000419, 1 (2020).

Blog Written By

Dr. K. RAJKUMAR

Central University of Tamilnadu 

Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, India

Editors

Dr. A. S. Ganeshraja

Dr. S. Chandrasekar

Reviewers

Dr. Y. Sasikumar

Dr. S. Thirumurugan

 

 

 

Labels:

Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 6, 2020 at 1:35 PM

    really very 9nformative, we await it for getting commercialisation of technology, so issues like left over scars after burning, or some deadly skin disease can be covered up.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dr. K RajkumarSeptember 9, 2020 at 8:50 PM

    Thank you for your comments. Warm welcome by Scientific News Blog Team.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PROSPECTS ON PHOTOBIOREFINERY

Very recently, Prof. Dr. K. Faungnawakij and his research group have summarized a mini review report on an emerging renewable technique of Photobiorefinery . This is one of the beyond technique of Artificial Photosynthesis (AP) [1] . Despite great promises, AP technologies for solar H2 production and CO2 reduction are far uncompetitive to other promising technologies at the current stage . However, despite an enormous effort, time, and budget paid on AP-related researches throughout several decades, AP technologies have struggled to strive beyond laboratory demonstration except a very few exceptions [2] . This bitter reality makes the translation of this excellent science to practical application questionable [3] . Technoeconomic analysis shows that without achieving the aggressive technology targets, this technology will not be commercially viable. This has directed the research community towards the development of highly efficient yet expensive devices. While tremendous p...
1 comment
Read more

Impact on Climate and Land Use Changes Around Ganga River

In India, Ganga is the largest river and also famous spiritual river, in meantime pollution issue in Ganga river is considered to be one of the most discussed topics on river water quality in the past decades . The river gets s everely polluted with untreated industrial and human wastes, and the river crossed around 11 states in India and provides water for about 40% of India's population, approximately 500 million people, we couldn’t find more than any other river in the world [ 1, 2 ]. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has mentioned that 764 grossly polluting industries were discharging into the Ganga river, 487 industries are from the Kanpur region. Therefore, the Kanpur region was treated as the main polluted spot and immediate action should be taken for further recovery of water quality. The Kanpur region is one of the most important industrialized place in India. It is the most polluted stretch of the Ganga River, because of its excessive pollutant discharge from the i...
1 comment
Read more

Electric Vehicle: Public Health and Climate Benefits

A research team led by Daniel Peters at Northwestern University has investigated that if we introducing electrifying vehicles in the streets of the United States could annually prevent hundreds-to-thousands of premature accidental deaths.This work highlights the potential of a synergistic solution to reduce CO 2 emissions by hundreds to millions of tons annually. The estimate of economic damages induced by introducing electrifying vehicles (EV) adoption is substantial. With current infrastructure, about 25% of electrifying vehicles adoption in the US can save approximately $16.8 billion annually, has been told in the study entitled"Public Health and Climate Benefits and Trade offs of U.S. Vehicle Electrification," in GeoHealth on 13 th August 2020 [1] .  Vehicle electrification in the United States could prevent hundreds to thousands of premature deaths annually while reducing carbon emissions by hundreds of millions of tons. This highlights the potential of co-beneficial...
2 comments
Read more

AN ACT OF FACE MASK MATERIAL USED TO PROTECT US FROM SARS-COV-2

“ In the absence of a vaccine, or effective antiviral, one of our only remaining strategies for controlling COVID-19 is to physically block the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the community ” On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic [1] . In the absence of a vaccine, or effective antiviral, one of our only remaining strategies for controlling COVID-19 is to physically block the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the community. Given that COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, the most effective physical defense likely involves widespread public use of face coverings, in conjunction with other control measures [ 2 ] . Face coverings (also variously referred to as face masks, nonmedical masks, community masks or barrier masks ) function primarily in source control; capturing droplets expelled by an infected individual [3] . Figure 1. DIY masks to protect against from viruses sounds like a crazy idea. source click here In the absence of an...
Post a Comment
Read more

RENEWABLE ENERGY'S ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL CLEEN-UP PROCESS

Human activity is overloading our atmosphere with carbon dioxide and other global warming emissions. These gases act like a blanket, trapping heat. The result is a web of significant and harmful impacts, from stronger, more frequent storms, to drought, sea level rise, and extinction. Most of global warming emissions come from our electricity sector. Most of those emissions come from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas . Sulfur dioxide (SO2) , which cause acid rain, comes from electricity generation. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) , which react with sunlight to create ground level ozone and smog, come from electricity generation.   Ozone (O3) occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere where it is beneficial.   Particulate matter is a type of air pollution more commonly referred to as soot. Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global climate change.   Mercury is a highly toxic metal that is released from coal-fired power plants. In contra...
Post a Comment
Read more

Scientific Research Focus on “To End Hunger”

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO UN), Hunger Report, Ending hunger is a major objective of the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), hunger is the term used to define periods when populations are experiencing severe food insecurity - means that they go for entire days without eating due to lack of money, lack of access to food, or other resources [ 1 ]. Hunger is strongly interconnected with poverty, and it involves interactions among an array of social, political, demographic, and societal factors. An attention is must in the following topics to put an end card for poor hunger:  Global Hunger Index (GHI). World Food Program’s 2020. Global Report on Food Crises.   Smallholder-farming. Ceres2030. The two main international institutions are the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) , joined forces to estimate what it would cost to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Novel Approach of Plastic Waste to Flash Graphene

Prof. Algozeeb and his research collaboration team have investigated an novel approach of upcycling plastic waste (PW) products to flash graphene (FG). This method relies on Flash Joule Heating (FJH) to convert PW into FG. A sequential direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) flash is used in order to make a high-quality graphene. In this FJH process, they established without catalyst and works for PW mixtures that can make the process suitable for handling landfill PW.  In 21 st century, PW pollution is considerable one among the various environmental issues. A very large fraction of PW ends up in the ocean, which leads to the formation of micro- and nanoplastics that threaten marine life, micro-organisms, useful bacteria, and humans. From the intense carbon footprint process, most of these synthesized plastics are used only once before dumping into landfills or water ways that terminate in the oceans. Hence, upcycling PW to higher value materials and chemicals is econ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Electromagnetic Field: Non-Chemical Water Treatment Technology

An interesting review report on “A critical review of the application of electromagnetic fields for scaling control in water systems: mechanisms, characterization, and operation” was reported by Lu Lin, Wenbin Jiang, Xuesong Xu and Pei Xu published in Nature Partner Journals Clean Water published on June 2020 [1] .   Water is the precious matter in the world. source U.S. General Services Administration has interested on non-chemical water treatment technologies. It has mentioned following important points: n on-chemical technology promises to increase the period between required blow-down cycles, thus reducing water consumption , minimizes associated issues of chemical storage, handling, and disposal, and may permit on-site re-use of cooling-tower “blow-down” water as “grey water” , it promises to be life cycle cost effective based solely on the reduction in chemical costs , this technology may reduce or eliminate chemical costs, it may not reduce other contractor costs ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Electro-Organic Synthesis: Next Emerging Technique

Industrial developments, excessive energy consumption, sustainable technologies, environmental cleaning processes are major topics of political and social discourse. Current innovations are rated not only focusing on their benefit and utility but also concerning their eco-friendly approaches. The development of green technological processes is becoming more important and requires harmless energy sources. Particularly over the past decade, the severe limitations of fossil resources intensify the movement towards sustainable synthesis techniques with a strict cutback in the ecological footprint [ 1 ]. Electro-organic synthesis belongs to the synthetic organic chemistry discipline that facilities the direct use of electricity to generate valuable compounds. Hence, it is possible to transfer green aspects of sustainable energy sources to the whole production process [ 2 ]. Since the Kolbe’s discoveries of using electricity as a reagent for organic transformations over 170 years ago, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Innovations of Integrated Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the study of methods to imitate intelligent human behavior. AI is widely heralded as an ongoing “revolution” transforming science and society altogether [ 1 , 2 ]. While approaches to AI such as machine learning, deep learning and artificial neural networks are reshaping data processing and analysis [ 3 ], healthcare, transportation and the production chain [ 4 ].  Figure 1. Integrated concept of artificial intelligence. AI Ethics Guidelines National and international organizations (European Commission, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), UK House of Lords, Singapore Commission) have responded to these concerns by developing ad hoc expert committees on AI, often mandated to draft policy documents in various countries. In 2018 alone, companies such as Google and SAP publicly released AI guidelines and principles. The advisory council on the ethical use of AI scientific team have announced that results reveal a global co...
4 comments
Read more