Switzerland

Back to Search

International Partner Search

Innovation & Technology Offer

Volume production readiness for cyber skin

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Reference Number: TOUK20170925001
Publication Date: 25 September 2017

Summary

A UK research group has developed and tested methods for making stretchable electronics in volume, based on biocompatible elastomers. Wearable and implantable prototypes exist. Further concept testing and scaling up is sought with developers of smart biosensors and consumer and health products, both in industry and academia. Cooperation type is likely to be licensing or technical cooperation.

Description

Stretchable electronics is coming of age. Research into it has been on-going for over a decade. In the early days, it was regarded as a technology-push type innovation but the first products on the market make a case for it and have encouraged talk of a new massive trend. Electronics will transform into structural electronics. This means that electronic devices will be built into things, they will become invisible. Instead of something that you wear, electronics will be built into things such as cyber skin.
A well renowned research group in the East of England has now developed methods that allow for scaling up the making of stretchable electronics on biocompatible substrates.
The group has prototyped devices such as skin sensors (see the Pictures). Such circuits have been trialled as both wearable and implantable.
From a technology perspective, the limits have been pushed. High resolution, down to 50 nm, has been achieved. Simple patterning is amenable to volume production. From the biocompatibility and applications perspective, the process is free from harmful substances. The morphology and roughness of the substrate can be varied so as to accommodate for electrochemical sensors, enzyme immobilisation and other desirable features. It is not difficult to imagine how for example biosensors can be integrated into consumer or healthcare products so they are less intrusive and much easier to accept.
The UK University wishes to team up with companies but also researchers developing smart devices and sensors in the fields of human and veterinary health, smart textiles or clothing, skin patches, socially acceptable robots etc. The types of co-operation may include licensing or technical co-operation.
Image

Image

Advantages and Innovations

This is the first time that metal electrodes can be deposited reliably on biocompatible elastic substrates using existing and scalable machinery. The method allows for both:
- High resolution;
- Chemical compatibility with well-known biocompatible polymers and elastomers.
The main advantage is the possibility for volume production of numerous smart sensors, stretchable consumer products etc.

Stage Of Development

Available for demonstration

Requested partner

Type of partner sought: industry and academia;
Specific activity of partner: developers of health and consumer products, also veterinary products that will benefit from stretchable electronics;
Role of partner sought: joint prototyping and scaling up.

Cooperation offer is closed for requests