Mar 4 2011
Zhenan Bao, a Stanford researcher has developed an ultra sensitive electronic skin. She has recently given a demonstration showing that this skin could detect biological molecules and chemicals and could also sense even a light touch.
A new stretchable solar cell is now powering the skin. This development may lead to new applications in robots, clothing, prosthetic limbs and so on.
Stretch super skin
The artificial skin is based on a flexible organic transistor, which has been made with carbon based materials and flexible polymers. This flexible sensor is highly sensitive to pressure and Bao was creating a skin that could stretch up to 30% more than their original length and come back to the original shape without losing any power or getting damaged.
According to Bao who is a Professor of Chemical Engineering, any function could be incorporated into this artificial skin and hence could be called Super Skin. For sensing touch the transistor has an extremely elastic rubber layer which is molded into a grid containing miniscule inverted pyramids. When this layer is pressed, its thickness alters and this would change the current flow via the transistor. The sensors have 25 million pyramids per square cm. The surface of the transistor is coated with another molecule which would bind with it on contact.
According to Darren Lipomi, this stretchable solar cell could also be used in fabrics for uniforms. Lipomi is a postdoctoral fellow in Bao’s lab. He adds that stretchability was very important if the device is to be attached to parts of the body or machines, which would extend when moved, as they would crack or wrinkle otherwise; and even while being stretched the solar cells would continue to generate electricity and also transmit data from the sensors.
According to Bao, the Super Skin, which she calls a Super Mimic of the human skin is now much more powerful, eco-friendly and versatile.