The most durable and elastic

The new "electronic skin" can stretch, increasing by 28 times

Tatiana Matveeva, "Scientific Russia"

The material, which mimics human skin in strength, extensibility and sensitivity, can be used to collect biological data in real time. "Electronic skin" can be useful for creating next-generation prostheses, as well as in personalized medicine, soft robotics and artificial intelligence, according to a press release from King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) Electronic Skin Has A Strong Future Stretching Ahead.

The development is described in detail in the journal Science Advances (Cai et al., Mixed-dimensional MXene-hydrogel heterostructures for electronic skin sensors with ultrabroad working range – VM). 

Drawings from the KAUST press release.

Most sensors that mimic human skin are created due to the fact that an active nanomaterial (sensor) is superimposed on the elastic surface. However, the connection between these layers is often too weak, which reduces the durability and sensitivity of the material; if, on the contrary, the connection is too strong, flexibility becomes less, which means electronic circuits can break. 

The new "electronic skin", created by scientists from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia), is made of a hydrogel reinforced with silicon dioxide nanoparticles - as a durable and elastic substrate – and two–dimensional titanium carbide MXene, which acts as a sensitive layer connected together by highly conductive nanowires.

"Hydrogels consist of 70% water, which makes them well compatible with human skin tissues," the authors explain. By pre-stretching the hydrogel in all directions, applying a layer of nanowires and then carefully controlling its release, the researchers created conductive pathways to the sensory layer that remained intact even when stretched, as a result of which the material increased by 28 times. 

The "electronic skin" could recognize objects at a distance of 20 centimeters, react to stimuli in less than one tenth of a second. She continued to work well after 5,000 deformations, recovering each time in about a quarter of a second. "This is an amazing achievement for electronic skin – to maintain strength after repeated use," say the authors of the work, "which simulates the elasticity and rapid recovery of human skin."

The new sensor can track a person's biological data – for example, changes in blood pressure – which can then be transmitted via Wi-Fi to a database. 

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