Invented a self-healing electronic skin like the Terminator
In an effort to make electronic devices more environmentally friendly, researchers have created an electronic skin that is completely recyclable. What’s more, this e-skin can also self-heal if torn into pieces.
The device is essentially a thin film embedded with sensors capable of measuring pressure, temperature and humidity, according to research published in Science Advances.
This type of e-skin also has the ability to self-repair if torn into many pieces.
This film is made from 3 common materials combined together and adding silver nanoparticles: when this e-skin is cut in half, the other compound is poured in"wound" will allow it to heal itself by re-forming the chemical bonds between the two pieces. This will restore the structure and make the e-skin as good as new.
If it is damaged beyond repair, simply dip it in a solution to completely melt it, then use that liquid to make a new skin. In the future, this type of e-skin can be used in the industry to produce prosthetics, robots, etc.
VR game controller suit.
There are many laboratories around the world developing electronic skin. One created by European scientists can move metal objects without touching them, using magnets.
A Japanese version turns your T-shirt into a video game controller. But this e-skin is unique because it can be recycled. That’s a big plus because the US alone produces 16 billion tons of e-waste every year. Motherboards, transistors, and hard drives contain toxic chemicals and need to be disposed of carefully.
Motherboards, transistors and hard drives contain toxic chemicals and need to be handled with care.
"This device will not produce toxic waste,"co-author of the study, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, Jianliang Xiao, said."We are facing environmental pollution every day. Protecting the environment not only has a big impact on us but also on our children. That's why we want to make an eco-friendly electronic skin."
More specifically, in case it cannot be restored, or the owner no longer needs to use it, it can be reused thanks to"recycled solution".
This solution is able to break down the structure of the compound and break it down into small molecules, allowing silver nanoparticles to be separated. These substances can then be used to make a new e-skin sheet.
This type of leather is soft but not as elastic as human skin.
The disintegration process takes about 30 minutes at 60 degrees Celsius or 10 hours at room temperature. The self-healing process of this electronic skin is even more amazing: it only takes half an hour at room temperature and a few minutes at 60 degrees Celsius, according to Mr. Xiao.
But nothing is perfect. The skin is soft but not as elastic as human skin. Xiao revealed that he and his colleagues are working on making the device more stretchy, which would make it easier to manufacture and integrate into prosthetic limbs and robots.
