The pioneering Chinese researchers have recently accomplished a feat in the field of health technology by engineering an electronic tattoo that bears an uncanny resemblance to human skin, both in terms of appearance and functionality. This revolutionary technology, referred to as “E-skin”, offers the ability to monitor vital health indicators such as blood pressure and body temperature in real-time. Interestingly, the E-skin’s design is based on graphene and it can be easily applied on various surfaces.
Understanding E-skin
The E-skin is essentially thin, flexible, and stretchable electronic material that shares qualities with human skin. It’s capable of sensing pressure, temperature, and stretch, thereby becoming a comprehensive tool for tracking multiple health parameters. The graphene-based E-skin can affix itself smoothly on diverse surfaces, from human skin to leaves and silk.
Impressive Features and Commercialization Possibilities
The E-skin presents impressive features like high sensitivity and long-term stability that make it stand out in the world of wearable technologies. One of its major attributes includes its ability to endure higher temperatures while remaining comfortable for the user. Furthermore, this graphene-based E-skin can be customised according to the individual user’s needs using laser scribing technology, thereby opening up new avenues for commercialisation in the future.
The Power of Graphene
At the core of this E-skin technology is graphene, a carbon-based material that is a mere atom thick. Its striking thinness coupled with high conductivity makes graphene an ideal candidate for numerous applications, ranging from miniaturised electronics to biomedical devices. It offers immense potential for transformative technologies such as computers, solar panels, batteries, sensors and other devices.
Unique Properties of Graphene
The distinct properties of graphene play a crucial role in the functioning of E-skin. At room temperature, graphene holds the record for the substance with the lowest resistivity. It has high thermal stability, significant elasticity, and outstanding electrical conductivity. Moreover, its electron mobility at room temperature is exceptional.
Advancements in Graphene Production
Until recently, the high costs associated with graphene production served as a considerable barrier to its commercialisation. However, recent breakthroughs have led to the development of graphene from Soybean using “GraphAir” technology. This method is not only fast, simple and safe, but also potentially scalable, which could lead to a reduction in production costs in the future.
Graphene Oxide: A Potential Solution for Desalination
In addition to the myriad of applications mentioned above, graphene oxide (GO) membranes have been found capable of filtering common salt from seawater. This discovery presents exciting possibilities in addressing global water scarcity issues, further underlining the enormous potential graphene holds in our future.