NTU develops thinner-than-hair stretchable electronic technology to mind-control robots

Jedi-like abilities to wave at a robot to control it can soon be a reality thanks to soft electronics being developed at NTU.

Researchers at the Nanyang Technical University (NTU) in Singapore are leading the way in the development of soft electronics and have now set up a high-tech laboratory where they can rapidly prototype new devices with ultrathin and stretchable electronics.

Conventional electronics products are hard and rigid since they rely on silicon as their primary substrate. These products work well at industrial scales or even for personal use products.

BUT, rigidity becomes a major hurdle when they have to be used in conjunction with the human body.

According to the United Nations, 15 percent of the global population has a physical disability of some form. Just like electronics help ease our daily lives, technology could also help improve the lives of those with disabilities.

However, overcoming the rigidity of electronics is a crucial step, and this is where soft electronics can help.

How are soft electronics made?

Researchers at NTU have devised various formulations for softer materials, such as hydrogels and biocompatible plastics, that can team up with electronics to make softer electronics.

Rigid electronic circuits risk breaking if they have to undergo repeated movements. The researchers printed the circuits on softer substrates to avoid this, facilitating repeated movements. One such printing pattern is the ribbon form, which is thinner than human hair and can stretch without breaking.

Another material that the laboratory has developed is a softer version of a Lego-like universal connector called BIND. The connector is soft and can join electronic components by pressing them together.

This connector can be stretched to seven times its length and is also 60 times tougher than conventional connectors, the researchers said in a press release.

Uses of soft electronics

NTU researchers have already demonstrated the use of soft electronics by integrating various sensors into their devices to measure parameters like heart rate, oxygen levels, and blood pressure, to list a few.

Encased in soft, flexible, and stretchable gel-like skin, these sensors resemble silicon bandages used widely in healthcare setups but offer many more advantages.

For instance, these bandages can facilitate the movements of joints. Depending on the use case scenario, they can be deployed in various thicknesses.

A similar material developed by the team can also be applied around the heart and monitor its working without being invasive like conventional pacemakers. In the future, the material could be further developed into a pacemaker.

Not just for the human body, soft electronics can help in crop monitoring as well since they can be applied directly to plants and issue alerts about crop diseases. Additionally, the sensors can help improve food safety when applied to food packaging.

NTU and its industrial partners have set up a pilot laboratory to develop and produce soft electronics. This is also aimed at developing an ecosystem for large-scale manufacturing of soft electronics in Singapore

“We aim to address some of humanity’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to healthcare advancements,” said Chen Xiaodong, materials science and engineering professor at NTU.

Chen has 50 patents in soft electronics to his credit and will head the pilot laboratory.

“My goal is to establish a new center of excellence for soft electronics, building a team of industry experts and commercial partners to swiftly bring these technologies to market,” he added in the press release.

By:  Ameya Paleja

From: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/ntu-thinner-than-hair-stretchable-tech