Imagine a electronic material that behaves like human skin: it bends, stretches, measures the heat, the pressure and, if damaged, she repairs itself within a few seconds. It is not science fiction, but the result of the work conducted by a group of researchers from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). Innovation could open the way for new medicine technologies, soft robotics and wearable devices, or wearable.
To create this material with surprising characteristics, scientists have combined the extraordinary properties of graphenea two -dimensional carbon form known for its resistance and the ability to conduct electricity, with Pedot: PSSa transparent and conductive polymer already used in flexible electronics and solar panels.
The result is a Solid, elastic, flexible and sensitive compound which exceeds the limits of current electronic materials, too rigid and fragile to adapt to living bodies or changing environments.
Alireza Dolatshahi-Pirouzprofessor of Dtu Health Tech and the main author of the research published on Advanced Scienceexplained:
Today’s devices are still unable to integrate all these qualities in a single platform, but we believe we have succeeded. We have created a multifunctional material, with tactile properties inspired by the skin and designed to interact with the human body and the surrounding environment.
The material that she repairs itself and adapts like a second skin
One of the most incredible aspects of the new material is his ability to replace them in a very short timesimilar to the natural skin healing process. If it undergoes a cut or a laceration, it regenerates itself within a few seconds. But not only: It can stretch its original length up to six times and return to the initial form without suffering structural damage.
These characteristics make it ideal for use in Soft robots and wearable deviceswhich require materials capable of following body movements without losing functionality. But there is more: the material is able to constantly monitor environmental and physiological parameters as temperature, pressure and pH levelsopening new scenarios in the personalized medicine and in the care of fragile people.
It is a real “Artificial sensorial system”which can adapt and respond to external stimuli just like a biological fabric would do. Electronic devices made with this material would be able to change shape, heal from any damage and, at the same time, detect the signals of the human body with precision.
Health, prostheses and space suits
The potential of this material is enormous, and according to Dolatshahi-Pirouz, the most useful applications may concern Healthcare for all of us, ordinary citizens. Just think of smart bandages able to monitor the healing status of a wound, or a Wearable devices for continuous control of temperature and heartbeat.
Even in surgery, enormous advantages could be obtained: the extensible nature of the material makes it perfect for minimally invasive toolsor even for Biocompatible plants and prosthesesmore comfortable and more performing than the current ones. And if we want to dream big, also the Spatial suits of the future could exploit its properties of self -repair, adaptability and heat regulation.
The next step for the team will be test production on an industrial scalein order to integrate this technology into real applications. If they succeed, it could really be a turning point for our way of living and taking care of usincreasingly interconnected between body and technology.
