(ANSA) – MILAN, AUGUST 19 – Electronic skin becomes wireless: it detects and transmits signals relating to pulse, sweating and exposure to ultraviolet rays without using a chip for the Bluetooth connection or bulky batteries. The result, which may also have applications for monitoring stress and blood sugar, is published in the journal Science by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The new electronic skin is a flexible semiconductor film that adheres to the skin like a patch. The ‘heart’ of the sensor is an ultra-thin layer of gallium nitride, a material known for its piezoelectric properties (it can produce an electrical signal in response to mechanical deformation and, conversely, it can vibrate mechanically in response to an electrical impulse).
Specifically, the researchers produced samples of pure gallium nitride and coupled them with a conductive layer of gold to enhance the electrical input and output signals. They then demonstrated that the device is sensitive enough to vibrate in response to heartbeat and salts in sweat: the vibration of the material then generates electrical signals that can be read by a nearby receiver. This ‘e-skin’ “can be applied to the body like a bandage and, coupled with a wireless reader on the smartphone, allows you to monitor heart rate, sweating and other biological signals”, concludes engineer Jeehwan Kim, of MIT. (HANDLE).
Source: Ansa
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