The Stanford University’s Bauzenan team laid the groundwork for the development of electronic components by taking the concept of 'artificial skin' to a new level. They not only demonstrated the precise stretchable electronic components that can sense the legs of ladybugs, but also demonstrated their ability to The process of large-scale manufacturing of such components. Humans can experience the world in many ways, our sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Our perception of this world through our hands benefits from our sensitive fingertips. Before we touch the flame, we can feel its heat. We can also feel the tenderness and tenderness of the newborn's face.
But for those who wear artificial limbs, they lose such ability. Professor Bao Zhenan from Stanford University has led the team for many years to develop 'tactile' 'artificial skin'. In fact, this is a unique The electronic component, which can be stretched, made of sensitive electronic materials, can sense the current changes caused by tiny pressures.
In the article published on the 19th in Nature, the team described two technical breakthroughs: First, they created a scalable polymer circuit that can detect a man-made bug using an integrated tactile sensor. A weak footprint. Although this technological achievement is a milestone in itself, the second is a more practical development. It is a method for the large-scale production of this new kind of flexible, scalable electronic original - this is a road to commercialization. A key step.
'The research on artificial skin and flexible electronics has made great progress, but until now no one has been able to prove the reliable production of stretchable circuits.' Bao said.
The team achieved the perfect integration of several layers of polymer, some of which provided the device's stretchability, others used as insulators to isolate electronically sensitive materials. Among them was a link where they used inkjet printers, in specific coatings. The circuit is drawn. The team has successfully made its material into a roughly two-inch square, with more than 6,000 individual signal processing devices, just like synthetic nerve endings. All of these are encapsulated in waterproof protective layers.
The prototype can be stretched to twice its original size while maintaining its ability to conduct electricity without cracks, delaminations, or wrinkles. In order to test durability, the team carried out more than 1,000 pulls on the sample. Stretch, but did not cause significant damage or decreased sensitivity. When the researchers stuck their samples to the irregular surface of the human hand, the effect was still very good.
One day, the surface of the prosthesis may be covered by this kind of flexible electronic material, but before that, this technology may bring us new flexible electronic devices, which will revolutionize the existing rigid electronic devices. change.
