For decades, engineers have been dreaming of creating electronics that are less rigid, perhaps even flexible. Recently, researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison published a report in the journal ACS Nano that they have developed a new technology that may lead to flexible electronics with a much longer battery life. This new technology may lead to bendable electronics, which can be implanted onto a variety of different surfaces, including clothing.
The team of researchers built upon previous research in which carbon nanotubes were used as the platform for electronic devices. Some of the best electrical conductors ever discovered, carbon nanotubes are single atomic sheets of carbon rolled up into a tube. When visible to the human eye, these structures resemble wires. Under a microscope, these nanotubes appear mesh-like, and are two hundred times stronger than steel, with five times the elasticity. They are mainly used for electronic and medical purposes.
In previous research, engineers struggled with isolating semi conductive carbon nanotubes, and the battery would ‘’short’’ itself off because of metallic corruptions in the tubes. Researchers have also had troubles in the past in regards to the packing capacity of the nanotubes, and the positions of the tubes.
Led by Professors Michael Arnold and Padma Gopalan, this new research includes a new technique called floating evaporative self-assembly, or FESA. This approach utilizes a self-assembly phenomenon elicited by rapidly evaporating a carbon nanotube solution. This aligns the nanotubes correctly, and also prevents the electronic device from shorting itself out. Professor Arnold, co-leader of the study, said that “Carbon nanotubes are very strong and very flexible, so they could also be used to make flexible displays and electronics that can stretch and bend, allowing you to integrate electronics into new places like clothing.”, meaning that these nanotubes could be woven into articles of clothing, or engineered into wearable devices on account of their flexibility and battery strength.
As science fiction as it sounds, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison may be on their way to creating wearable electronics. Using carbon nanotubes, trusted microscopic electrical conductors, the team has created a procedure which harnesses a self-assembly phenomenon exhibited by the carbon nanotubes. The team has already patented their technology, and hope to have these conductors being produced at a more industrialized level as soon as possible.
The team of researchers built upon previous research in which carbon nanotubes were used as the platform for electronic devices. Some of the best electrical conductors ever discovered, carbon nanotubes are single atomic sheets of carbon rolled up into a tube. When visible to the human eye, these structures resemble wires. Under a microscope, these nanotubes appear mesh-like, and are two hundred times stronger than steel, with five times the elasticity. They are mainly used for electronic and medical purposes.
In previous research, engineers struggled with isolating semi conductive carbon nanotubes, and the battery would ‘’short’’ itself off because of metallic corruptions in the tubes. Researchers have also had troubles in the past in regards to the packing capacity of the nanotubes, and the positions of the tubes.
Led by Professors Michael Arnold and Padma Gopalan, this new research includes a new technique called floating evaporative self-assembly, or FESA. This approach utilizes a self-assembly phenomenon elicited by rapidly evaporating a carbon nanotube solution. This aligns the nanotubes correctly, and also prevents the electronic device from shorting itself out. Professor Arnold, co-leader of the study, said that “Carbon nanotubes are very strong and very flexible, so they could also be used to make flexible displays and electronics that can stretch and bend, allowing you to integrate electronics into new places like clothing.”, meaning that these nanotubes could be woven into articles of clothing, or engineered into wearable devices on account of their flexibility and battery strength.
As science fiction as it sounds, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison may be on their way to creating wearable electronics. Using carbon nanotubes, trusted microscopic electrical conductors, the team has created a procedure which harnesses a self-assembly phenomenon exhibited by the carbon nanotubes. The team has already patented their technology, and hope to have these conductors being produced at a more industrialized level as soon as possible.