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Nan X, Qin B, Xu Z, Jia Q, Hao J, Cao X, Mei S, Wang X, Kang T, Zhang J, Bai T. The effect of feed mechanisms on the structural design of flexible antennas, and research on their material processing and applications. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2024; 95:091501. [PMID: 39287479 DOI: 10.1063/5.0206788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Flexible antennas are widely used in mobile communications, the Internet of Things, personalized medicine, aerospace, and military technologies due to their superior performance in terms of adaptability, impact resistance, high degree of freedom, miniaturization of structures, and cost-effectiveness. With excellent flexibility and portability, these antennas are now being integrated into paper, textiles, and even the human body to withstand the various mechanical stresses of daily life without compromising their performance. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the basic principles and current development of flexible antennas, systematically analyze the key performance factors of flexible antennas, such as structure, process, material, and application environment, and then discuss in detail the design structure, material selection, preparation process, and corresponding experimental validation of flexible antennas. Flexible antenna design in mobile communication, wearable devices, biomedical technology, and other fields in recent years has been emphasized. Finally, the development status of flexible antenna technology is summarized, and its future development trend and research direction are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueli Nan
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Bolin Qin
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Zhikuan Xu
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Qikun Jia
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Jinjin Hao
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Xinxin Cao
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Shixuan Mei
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Xin Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Tongtong Kang
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Jiale Zhang
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Tingting Bai
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
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2
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Kim SH, Basir A, Avila R, Lim J, Hong SW, Choe G, Shin JH, Hwang JH, Park SY, Joo J, Lee C, Choi J, Lee B, Choi KS, Jung S, Kim TI, Yoo H, Jung YH. Strain-invariant stretchable radio-frequency electronics. Nature 2024; 629:1047-1054. [PMID: 38778108 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07383-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Wireless modules that provide telecommunications and power-harvesting capabilities enabled by radio-frequency (RF) electronics are vital components of skin-interfaced stretchable electronics1-7. However, recent studies on stretchable RF components have demonstrated that substantial changes in electrical properties, such as a shift in the antenna resonance frequency, occur even under relatively low elastic strains8-15. Such changes lead directly to greatly reduced wireless signal strength or power-transfer efficiency in stretchable systems, particularly in physically dynamic environments such as the surface of the skin. Here we present strain-invariant stretchable RF electronics capable of completely maintaining the original RF properties under various elastic strains using a 'dielectro-elastic' material as the substrate. Dielectro-elastic materials have physically tunable dielectric properties that effectively avert frequency shifts arising in interfacing RF electronics. Compared with conventional stretchable substrate materials, our material has superior electrical, mechanical and thermal properties that are suitable for high-performance stretchable RF electronics. In this paper, we describe the materials, fabrication and design strategies that serve as the foundation for enabling the strain-invariant behaviour of key RF components based on experimental and computational studies. Finally, we present a set of skin-interfaced wireless healthcare monitors based on strain-invariant stretchable RF electronics with a wireless operational distance of up to 30 m under strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Hong Kim
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Abdul Basir
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Raudel Avila
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jaeman Lim
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Woo Hong
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Geonoh Choe
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo Hwan Shin
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Hee Hwang
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Young Park
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiho Joo
- Superintelligence Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Chanmi Lee
- Superintelligence Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaehoon Choi
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Byunghun Lee
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang-Seong Choi
- Superintelligence Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungmook Jung
- Division of Advanced Materials, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Il Kim
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoungsuk Yoo
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yei Hwan Jung
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Lee J, Kim SH, Zhang H, Min S, Choe G, Ma Z, Jung YH. Design and Fabrication of Stretchable Microwave Transmission Lines Based on a Quasi-Microstrip Structure. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:4896-4903. [PMID: 38252593 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c14493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Radio frequency (RF) electronics are vital components of stretchable electronics that require wireless capabilities, ranging from skin-interfaced wearable systems to implantable devices to soft robotics. One of the key challenges in stretchable electronics is achieving near-lossless transmission line technology that can carry high-frequency electrical signals between various RF components. Almost all existing stretchable interconnection strategies only demonstrate direct current or low-frequency electrical properties, limiting their use in high frequencies, especially in the MHz to GHz range. Here, we describe the design and fabrication of a simple stretchable RF transmission line strategy that integrates a quasi-microstrip structure into a stretchable serpentine microscale interconnection. We show the effects of quasi-microstrip structural dimensions on the RF performance based on detailed quantitative analysis and experimentally demonstrate the optimized device capable of carrying RF signals with frequencies of up to 40 GHz with near-lossless characteristics. To show the potential application of our transmission line in stretchable microwave electronics, we designed a single-stage power amplifier system with a gain of 9.8 dB at 9 GHz that fully utilizes our quasi-microstrip transmission line technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juhwan Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Sun Hong Kim
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Huilong Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Seunghwan Min
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Geonoh Choe
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhenqiang Ma
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Yei Hwan Jung
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
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4
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Nan X, Kang T, Zhang Z, Wang X, Zhang J, Lei Y, Gao L, Cui J, Xu H. Flexible Symmetric-Defection Antenna with Bending and Thermal Insensitivity for Miniaturized UAV. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:159. [PMID: 38276858 PMCID: PMC10818624 DOI: 10.3390/mi15010159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Flexible conformal-enabled antennas have great potential for various developable surface-built unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) due to their superior mechanical compliance as well as maintaining excellent electromagnetic features. However, it remains a challenge that the antenna holds bending and thermal insensitivity to negligibly shift resonant frequency during conformal attachment and aerial flight, respectively. Here, we report a flexible symmetric-defection antenna (FSDA) with bending and thermal insensitivity. By engraving a symmetric defection on the reflective ground, the radiated unit attached to the soft polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) makes the antenna resonate at the ISM microwave band (resonant frequency = 2.44 GHz) and conformal with a miniaturized UAV. The antenna is also insensitive to both the bending-conformal attachment (20 mm < r < 70 mm) and thermal radiation (20~100 °C) due to the symmetric peripheral-current field along the defection and the low-change thermal effect of the PDMS, respectively. Therefore, the antenna in a non-bending state almost keeps the same impedance matching and radiation when it is attached to a cylinder-back of a UAV. The flexible antenna with bending and thermal insensitivity will pave the way for more conformal or wrapping applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueli Nan
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (X.N.); (T.K.); (X.W.); (J.Z.)
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Tongtong Kang
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (X.N.); (T.K.); (X.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Zhonghe Zhang
- College of Electronics and Information Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, China;
| | - Xin Wang
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (X.N.); (T.K.); (X.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jiale Zhang
- School of Automation and Software Engineering, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (X.N.); (T.K.); (X.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Yusheng Lei
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (Y.L.); (L.G.)
| | - Libo Gao
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (Y.L.); (L.G.)
| | - Jianli Cui
- School of Physics and Electronics Engineering, Yuncheng University, Yuncheng 044000, China
| | - Hongcheng Xu
- School of Instrument Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
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5
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Memon AW, Malengier B, Van Torre P, Langenhove LV. A Lattice-Hinge-Design-Based Stretchable Textile Microstrip Patch Antenna for Wireless Strain Sensing at 2.45 GHz. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:8946. [PMID: 37960644 PMCID: PMC10650037 DOI: 10.3390/s23218946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The manuscript presents a novel approach to designing and fabricating a stretchable patch antenna designed for strain sensing and the wireless communication of sensing data at the same time. The challenge lies in combining flexible and stretchable textile materials with different physical morphologies, which can hinder the adhesion among multiple layers when stacked up, resisting the overall stretchability of the antenna. The proposed antenna design overcomes this challenge by incorporating a lattice hinge pattern into the non-stretchable conductive e-textile, transforming it into a stretchable structure. The innovative design includes longitudinal cuts inserted in both the patch and the ground plane of the antenna, allowing it to stretch along in the perpendicular direction. Implementing the lattice hinge pattern over the conductive layers of the proposed patch antenna, in combination with a 2 mm thick Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate, achieves a maximum of 25% stretchability compared to its counterpart antenna without a lattice hinge design. The stretchable textile antenna resonates around a frequency of 2.45 GHz and exhibits a linear resonant frequency shift when strained up to 25%. This characteristic makes it suitable for use as a strain sensor. Additionally, the lattice hinge design enhances the conformability and flexibility of the antenna compared to that of a solid patch antenna. The realized antenna gains in the E and H-plane are measured as 2.21 dBi and 2.34 dBi, respectively. Overall, the presented design offers a simple and effective solution for fabricating a stretchable textile patch antenna for normal use or as a sensing element, opening up possibilities for applications in the communication and sensing fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Wahab Memon
- Centre of Textile Science and Engineering, Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; (B.M.); (L.V.L.)
- Department of Textile Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro 76020, Pakistan
| | - Benny Malengier
- Centre of Textile Science and Engineering, Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; (B.M.); (L.V.L.)
| | - Patrick Van Torre
- Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture Imec-IDLab, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium;
| | - Lieva Van Langenhove
- Centre of Textile Science and Engineering, Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; (B.M.); (L.V.L.)
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6
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Ban S, Lee YJ, Kwon S, Kim YS, Chang JW, Kim JH, Yeo WH. Soft Wireless Headband Bioelectronics and Electrooculography for Persistent Human-Machine Interfaces. ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS 2023; 5:877-886. [PMID: 36873262 PMCID: PMC9979786 DOI: 10.1021/acsaelm.2c01436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in wearable technologies have enabled ways for people to interact with external devices, known as human-machine interfaces (HMIs). Among them, electrooculography (EOG), measured by wearable devices, is used for eye movement-enabled HMI. Most prior studies have utilized conventional gel electrodes for EOG recording. However, the gel is problematic due to skin irritation, while separate bulky electronics cause motion artifacts. Here, we introduce a low-profile, headband-type, soft wearable electronic system with embedded stretchable electrodes, and a flexible wireless circuit to detect EOG signals for persistent HMIs. The headband with dry electrodes is printed with flexible thermoplastic polyurethane. Nanomembrane electrodes are prepared by thin-film deposition and laser cutting techniques. A set of signal processing data from dry electrodes demonstrate successful real-time classification of eye motions, including blink, up, down, left, and right. Our study shows that the convolutional neural network performs exceptionally well compared to other machine learning methods, showing 98.3% accuracy with six classes: the highest performance till date in EOG classification with only four electrodes. Collectively, the real-time demonstration of continuous wireless control of a two-wheeled radio-controlled car captures the potential of the bioelectronic system and the algorithm for targeting various HMI and virtual reality applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunghyeb Ban
- School
of Engineering and Computer Science, Washington
State University, Vancouver, Washington 98686, United States
- IEN
Center for Human-Centric Interfaces and Engineering at the Institute
for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Yoon Jae Lee
- IEN
Center for Human-Centric Interfaces and Engineering at the Institute
for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- School
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Shinjae Kwon
- IEN
Center for Human-Centric Interfaces and Engineering at the Institute
for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- George
W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Yun-Soung Kim
- BioMedical
Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn
School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Jae Won Chang
- Department
of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Hoon Kim
- School
of Engineering and Computer Science, Washington
State University, Vancouver, Washington 98686, United States
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Woon-Hong Yeo
- IEN
Center for Human-Centric Interfaces and Engineering at the Institute
for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- George
W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- Wallace
H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- Parker
H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Institute for
Materials, Neural Engineering Center, Institute for Robotics and Intelligent
Machines, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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7
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Oh JY, Hwang CS, Yang YS, Song M, Kim J, Kim TS, Kim S, Oh H, Kang SY, Pi JE, Koo JB, Park CW, Lee H. Dual-Functional Self-Attachable and Stretchable Interface for Universal Three-Dimensional Modular Electronics. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:49303-49312. [PMID: 36241609 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c13803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Stretchable electronics have become essential for custom-built electronics, self-assembling robotics, and wearable devices. Although many stretchable electronics contain integrated systems, they still limit bulky connection systems. We introduce a new dual-functioned self-attachable and stretchable interface (SASI), allowing a direct and instant interconnection between rigid and soft electronics. The SASI consists of a sticky and stretchable substrate and surface-embedded serpentine conductors with the single-sided polyimide fabricated using the embedded transfer process. The adhesion property of the SASI is controlled by the mixed elastomer ratio. The resulting sticky and conductive SASI can instantly adhere to a metal surface and create conductive paths. The SASI serpentine conductors exhibit high stretchability (∼290%) and provide self-attachable, re-attachable, and low-resistant electrical contacts (0.85 ohms in 0.25 mm2) between interfaces without pressure, heat, or extra solder. In addition, three-dimensional curved and modular electronics can be formed with the SASI by compiling functional blocks. SASI provides a novel strategy for assembling functional chips or modules for stretchable electronics, opening a path to onboard integrated electronics that are customizable by users for real-world stretchable electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Young Oh
- Reality Device Research Division, ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), 218 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea
| | - Chi-Sun Hwang
- Reality Device Research Division, ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), 218 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Suk Yang
- Reality Device Research Division, ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), 218 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea
| | - Myoung Song
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Junmo Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Taek-Soo Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sujung Kim
- Reality Device Research Division, ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), 218 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea
| | - Himchan Oh
- Reality Device Research Division, ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), 218 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Youl Kang
- Reality Device Research Division, ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), 218 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Eun Pi
- Reality Device Research Division, ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), 218 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Bon Koo
- Reality Device Research Division, ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), 218 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Woo Park
- Reality Device Research Division, ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), 218 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoyoung Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seoburo, Jangan-Gu, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
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8
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Deng HT, Wen DL, Feng T, Wang YL, Zhang XR, Huang P, Zhang XS. Silicone Rubber Based-Conductive Composites for Stretchable "All-in-One" Microsystems. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:39681-39700. [PMID: 36006298 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c08333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Wearable electronics with development trends such as miniaturization, multifunction, and smart integration have become an important part of the Internet of Things (IoT) and have penetrated various sectors of modern society. To meet the increasing demands of wearable electronics in terms of deformability and conformability, many efforts have been devoted to overcoming the nonstretchable and poor conformal properties of traditional functional materials and endowing devices with outstanding mechanical properties. One of the promising approaches is composite engineering in which traditional functional materials are incorporated into the various polymer matrices to develop different kinds of functional composites and construct different functions of stretchable electronics. Herein, we focus on the approach of composite engineering and the polymer matrix of silicone rubber (SR), and we summarize the state-of-the-art details of silicone rubber-based conductive composites (SRCCs), including a summary of their conductivity mechanisms and synthesis methods and SRCC applications for stretchable electronics. For conductivity mechanisms, two conductivity mechanisms of SRCC are emphasized: percolation theory and the quantum tunneling mechanism. For synthesis methods of SRCCs, four typical approaches to synthesize different kinds of SRCCs are investigated: mixing/blending, infiltration, ion implantation, and in situ formation. For SRCC applications, different functions of stretchable electronics based on SRCCs for interconnecting, sensing, powering, actuating, and transmitting are summarized, including stretchable interconnects, sensors, nanogenerators, antennas, and transistors. These functions reveal the feasibility of constructing a stretchable all-in-one self-powered microsystem based on SRCC-based stretchable electronics. As a prospect, this microsystem is expected to integrate the functional sensing modulus, the energy harvesting modulus, and the process and response modulus together to sense and respond to environmental stimulations and human physiological signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Tao Deng
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Dan-Liang Wen
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Tao Feng
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Yi-Lin Wang
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Xin-Ran Zhang
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Peng Huang
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
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9
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Bang J, Ahn J, Zhang J, Ko TH, Park B, Lee YM, Jung BK, Lee SY, Ok J, Kim BH, Kim TI, Choi JI, Lee CH, Oh SJ. Stretchable and Directly Patternable Double-Layer Structure Electrodes with Complete Coverage. ACS NANO 2022; 16:12134-12144. [PMID: 35925652 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c02664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Stretchable electrodes are widely used in next-generation wearable electronics. Recent studies incorporated designs that help rigid electrodes attain stretchability. However, these structures exhibited unsatisfactory charge/signal extraction efficiency because of their low areal fill factor. Additionally, they cannot be photolithographically patterned on polymer substrates because of their low adhesion, requiring additional complicated fabrication steps. We developed photolithographically patternable stretchable electrodes with complete coverage and enhanced charge-extraction efficiency. The electrodes, comprising double layers, included a chemically treated Ag nanowire mesh and Au thin film. The interfacial linker role of polyvinylpyrrolidone chemically strengthened the interfacial bonds, and the reinforced concrete structure of nanowire-embedded metal thin films enhanced the mechanical properties. Therefore, the electrodes provided superior efficiency and stability in capturing physical, electromagnetic, and electrophysiological signals while exceeding the existing stretchable electrode limits. A broad range of applications are foreseen, such as electrocardiogram sensing electrodes, strain sensors, temperature sensors, and antennas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junsung Bang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Junhyuk Ahn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinyuan Zhang
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Tae Hee Ko
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine and Korea University Medical Center, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Ion Channel Research Unit, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Byeonghak Park
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Min Lee
- Department of Semiconductor Systems Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Ku Jung
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Yeop Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jehyung Ok
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong Hoon Kim
- Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Il Kim
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Il Choi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine and Korea University Medical Center, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Ion Channel Research Unit, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Chi Hwan Lee
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Brick Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Soong Ju Oh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
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10
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Kim Y, Kim J, Chicas R, Xiuhtecutli N, Matthews J, Zavanelli N, Kwon S, Lee SH, Hertzberg VS, Yeo W. Soft Wireless Bioelectronics Designed for Real-Time, Continuous Health Monitoring of Farmworkers. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2200170. [PMID: 35306761 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202200170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hotter summers caused by global warming and increased workload and duration are endangering the health of farmworkers, a high-risk population for heat-related illness (HRI), and deaths. Although prior studies using wearable sensors show the feasibility of employing field-collected data for HRI monitoring, existing devices still have limitations, such as data loss from motion artifacts, device discomfort from rigid electronics, difficulties with administering ingestible sensors, and low temporal resolution. Here, this paper introduces a wireless, wearable bioelectronic system with functionalities for continuous monitoring of skin temperature, electrocardiograms (ECG), heart rates (HR), and activities, configured in a single integrated package. Advanced nanomanufacturing based on laser machining allows rapid device fabrication and direct incorporation of sensors with a highly breathable substrate, allowing for managing excessive sweating and multimodal stresses. To validate the device's performance in agricultural settings, the device is applied to multiple farmworkers at various operations, including fernery, nursery, and crop. The accurate data recording, including high-fidelity ECG (signal-to-noise ratio: >20 dB), accurate HR (r = 0.89, r2 = 0.65 in linear correlation), and reliable temperature/activity, confirms the device's capability for multiparameter health monitoring of farmworkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun‐Soung Kim
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and IEN Center for Human‐Centric Interfaces and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Jihoon Kim
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and IEN Center for Human‐Centric Interfaces and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Roxana Chicas
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli
- Farmworker Association of Florida Apopka FL 32703 USA
- Department of Anthropology Tulane University New Orleans LA 70118 USA
| | - Jared Matthews
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and IEN Center for Human‐Centric Interfaces and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Nathan Zavanelli
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and IEN Center for Human‐Centric Interfaces and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Shinjae Kwon
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and IEN Center for Human‐Centric Interfaces and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Sung Hoon Lee
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and IEN Center for Human‐Centric Interfaces and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Vicki S. Hertzberg
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332 USA
| | - Woon‐Hong Yeo
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and IEN Center for Human‐Centric Interfaces and Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332 USA
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332 USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering Georgia Tech and Emory University Atlanta GA 30332 USA
- Institute for Materials Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332 USA
- Neural Engineering Center Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332 USA
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11
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Zhu J, Hu Z, Zhang S, Zhang X, Zhou H, Xing C, Guo H, Qiu D, Yang H, Song C, Cheng H. Stretchable 3D Wideband Dipole Antennas from Mechanical Assembly for On-Body Communication. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:12855-12862. [PMID: 35254805 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c24651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of wearable/stretchable electronics could largely benefit from advanced stretchable antennas with excellent on-body performance upon mechanical deformations. Despite recent developments of stretchable antennas based on intrinsically stretchable conductors, they are often affected by lossy human tissues and exhibit resonant frequency shifts upon stretching, preventing their applications in on-body wireless communication and powering. This work reports a three-dimensional (3D) stretchable wideband dipole antenna from mechanical assembly to simultaneously reduce the frequency detuning and enhance on-body performance. The large bandwidth is achieved by coupling two resonances from two pairs of radiation arms, which is well-maintained even when the antenna is directly placed on human bodies or stretched over 25%. Such an excellent on-body performance allows the antenna to robustly transmit the wireless data and energy. The design of the 3D stretchable wideband dipole antenna with significantly enhanced on-body wireless communication performance was validated by an experimental demonstration that features a small difference in the wirelessly received power between the on-body and off-body use. The combination of the mechanically assembled 3D geometries and the coupled mechanical-electromagnetic properties can open up new opportunities in deformable 3D antennas and other microwave devices with excellent on-body performance and tunable properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zhu
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Zhihui Hu
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, Pennsylvania, United States
- School of Transportation and Logistics Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430063, China
| | - Senhao Zhang
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, Pennsylvania, United States
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230022, China
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Suzhou 215011, China
| | - Xianzhe Zhang
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Honglei Zhou
- Institute of Flexible Electronics Technology of THU, Jiaxing 314000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chenghao Xing
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Huaiqian Guo
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Donghai Qiu
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Suzhou 215011, China
| | - Hongbo Yang
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230022, China
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Suzhou 215011, China
| | - Chaoyun Song
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Huanyu Cheng
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, Pennsylvania, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, Pennsylvania, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, Pennsylvania, United States
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12
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Jeong J, Jung J, Jung D, Kim J, Ju H, Kim T, Lee J. An implantable optogenetic stimulator wirelessly powered by flexible photovoltaics with near-infrared (NIR) light. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 180:113139. [PMID: 33714161 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetics is a cutting-edge tool in neuroscience that employs light-sensitive proteins and controlled illumination for neuromodulation. Its main advantage is the ability to demonstrate causal relationships by manipulating the activity of specific neuronal populations and observing behavioral phenotypes. However, the tethering system used to deliver light to optogenetic tools can constrain both natural animal behaviors and experimental design. Here, we present an optically powered and controlled wireless optogenetic system using near-infrared (NIR) light for high transmittance through live tissues. In vivo optogenetic stimulations using this system induced whisker movement in channelrhodopsin-expressing mice, confirming the photovoltaics-generated electrical power was sufficient, and the remote controlling system operated successfully. The proposed optogenetic system provides improved optogenetic applications in freely moving animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinmo Jeong
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Jieun Jung
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongwuk Jung
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Juho Kim
- Department of Applied Nano-Mechanics, Nano-Convergence Manufacturing Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (KIMM), 156 Gajeongbuk-Ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 34103, Republic of Korea
| | - Hunpyo Ju
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jongho Lee
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123 Cheomdangwagi-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.
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13
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Zhu J, Hu Z, Song C, Yi N, Yu Z, Liu Z, Liu S, Wang M, Dexheimer MG, Yang J, Cheng H. Stretchable wideband dipole antennas and rectennas for RF energy harvesting. MATERIALS TODAY PHYSICS 2021; 18:100377. [PMID: 33997649 PMCID: PMC8117448 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtphys.2021.100377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The ultimate application of bio-integrated, stretchable electronics hinges on the indispensable modules of stretchable wireless data transmission and power supplies. While radiofrequency (RF) antennas and rectennas could enable wireless communication and RF energy harvesting in the far-field, their performance deteriorates because of the frequency detuning from mechanical deformations. Here, stretchable wideband antennas and rectennas are introduced to robustly operate and combine received RF power over their wideband upon mechanical deformations. Devices with stretchable wideband antennas and rectennas create application opportunities such as self-powered systems, remote monitoring of the environment, and clean energy. A comprehensive set of manufacturing schemes, device components, and theoretical design tools for the stretchable wideband antennas and rectennas is reported. A stretchable wideband rectenna integrated with various functional sensing modules and its demonstration with enhanced effective rectenna efficiency over the state-of-the-art by 10-100 times illustrates a system-level example of this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zhu
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Zhihui Hu
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
- School of Logistics Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430063, China
| | - Chaoyun Song
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK, United Kingdom
| | - Ning Yi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Zhaozheng Yu
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Zhendong Liu
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
- Key Laboratory of E&M, Zhejiang University of Technology, Ministry of Education & Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Shangbin Liu
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Mengjun Wang
- School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Michael Gregory Dexheimer
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Jian Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Huanyu Cheng
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
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14
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Zhu J, Zhang S, Yi N, Song C, Qiu D, Hu Z, Li B, Xing C, Yang H, Wang Q, Cheng H. Strain-Insensitive Hierarchically Structured Stretchable Microstrip Antennas for Robust Wireless Communication. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2021; 13:108. [PMID: 34138356 PMCID: PMC8035380 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-021-00631-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
As the key component of wireless data transmission and powering, stretchable antennas play an indispensable role in flexible/stretchable electronics. However, they often suffer from frequency detuning upon mechanical deformations; thus, their applications are limited to wireless sensing with wireless transmission capabilities remaining elusive. Here, a hierarchically structured stretchable microstrip antenna with meshed patterns arranged in an arched shape showcases tunable resonance frequency upon deformations with improved overall stretchability. The almost unchanged resonance frequency during deformations enables robust on-body wireless communication and RF energy harvesting, whereas the rapid changing resonance frequency with deformations allows for wireless sensing. The proposed stretchable microstrip antenna was demonstrated to communicate wirelessly with a transmitter (input power of - 3 dBm) efficiently (i.e., the receiving power higher than - 100 dBm over a distance of 100 m) on human bodies even upon 25% stretching. The flexibility in structural engineering combined with the coupled mechanical-electromagnetic simulations, provides a versatile engineering toolkit to design stretchable microstrip antennas and other potential wireless devices for stretchable electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zhu
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Senhao Zhang
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230022, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Suzhou, 215011, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Yi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Chaoyun Song
- School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, University Park, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK
| | - Donghai Qiu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Suzhou, 215011, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhihui Hu
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Bowen Li
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Chenghao Xing
- Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Hongbo Yang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230022, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Suzhou, 215011, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Huanyu Cheng
- Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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15
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Recent Advances of Wearable Antennas in Materials, Fabrication Methods, Designs, and Their Applications: State-of-the-Art. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11100888. [PMID: 32987793 PMCID: PMC7598725 DOI: 10.3390/mi11100888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The demand for wearable technologies has grown tremendously in recent years. Wearable antennas are used for various applications, in many cases within the context of wireless body area networks (WBAN). In WBAN, the presence of the human body poses a significant challenge to the wearable antennas. Specifically, such requirements are required to be considered on a priority basis in the wearable antennas, such as structural deformation, precision, and accuracy in fabrication methods and their size. Various researchers are active in this field and, accordingly, some significant progress has been achieved recently. This article attempts to critically review the wearable antennas especially in light of new materials and fabrication methods, and novel designs, such as miniaturized button antennas and miniaturized single and multi-band antennas, and their unique smart applications in WBAN. Finally, the conclusion has been drawn with respect to some future directions.
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16
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Kwon YT, Kim YS, Kwon S, Mahmood M, Lim HR, Park SW, Kang SO, Choi JJ, Herbert R, Jang YC, Choa YH, Yeo WH. All-printed nanomembrane wireless bioelectronics using a biocompatible solderable graphene for multimodal human-machine interfaces. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3450. [PMID: 32651424 PMCID: PMC7351733 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17288-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in nanomaterials and nano-microfabrication have enabled the development of flexible wearable electronics. However, existing manufacturing methods still rely on a multi-step, error-prone complex process that requires a costly cleanroom facility. Here, we report a new class of additive nanomanufacturing of functional materials that enables a wireless, multilayered, seamlessly interconnected, and flexible hybrid electronic system. All-printed electronics, incorporating machine learning, offers multi-class and versatile human-machine interfaces. One of the key technological advancements is the use of a functionalized conductive graphene with enhanced biocompatibility, anti-oxidation, and solderability, which allows a wireless flexible circuit. The high-aspect ratio graphene offers gel-free, high-fidelity recording of muscle activities. The performance of the printed electronics is demonstrated by using real-time control of external systems via electromyograms. Anatomical study with deep learning-embedded electrophysiology mapping allows for an optimal selection of three channels to capture all finger motions with an accuracy of about 99% for seven classes. Though wearable electronics remain an attractive technology for bioelectronics, fabrication methods that precisely print biocompatible materials for electronics are needed. Here, the authors report an additive manufacturing process that yields all-printed nanomaterial-based wireless electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Tae Kwon
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Yun-Soung Kim
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Shinjae Kwon
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Musa Mahmood
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Hyo-Ryoung Lim
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Si-Woo Park
- Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan, 15588, South Korea
| | - Sung-Oong Kang
- Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan, 15588, South Korea
| | - Jeongmoon J Choi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Robert Herbert
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Young C Jang
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.,Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Yong-Ho Choa
- Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan, 15588, South Korea
| | - Woon-Hong Yeo
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA. .,Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA. .,Neural Engineering Center, Flexible and Wearable Electronics Advanced Research, Institute for Materials, Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
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17
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Herbert R, Lim HR, Yeo WH. Printed, Soft, Nanostructured Strain Sensors for Monitoring of Structural Health and Human Physiology. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:25020-25030. [PMID: 32393022 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c04857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Soft strain sensors that are mechanically flexible or stretchable are of significant interest in the fields of structural health monitoring, human physiology, and human-machine interfaces. However, existing deformable strain sensors still suffer from complex fabrication processes, poor reusability, limited adhesion strength, or structural rigidity. In this work, we introduce a versatile, high-throughput fabrication method of nanostructured, soft material-enabled, miniaturized strain sensors for both structural health monitoring and human physiology detection. Aerosol jet printing of polyimide and silver nanowires enables multifunctional strain sensors with tunable resistance and gauge factor. Experimental study of soft material compositions and multilayered structures of the strain sensor demonstrates the capabilities of strong adhesion and conformal lamination on different surfaces without the use of conventional fixtures and/or tapes. A two-axis, printed strain gauge enables the detection of force-induced strain changes on a curved stem valve for structural health management while offering reusability over 10 times without losing the sensing performance. Direct comparison with a commercial film sensor captures the advantages of the printed soft sensor in enhanced gauge factor and sensitivity. Another type of a stretchable strain sensor in skin-wearable applications demonstrates a highly sensitive monitoring of a subject's motion, pulse, and breathing, validated by comparing it with a clinical-grade system. Overall, the presented comprehensive study of materials, mechanics, printing-based fabrication, and interfacial adhesion shows a great potential of the printed soft strain sensor for applications in continuous structural health monitoring, human health detection, machine-interfacing systems, and environmental condition monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Herbert
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Hyo-Ryoung Lim
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Woon-Hong Yeo
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Neural Engineering Center, Institute for Materials, Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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