Regular Track Invited Speakers

 I will outline our group’s newly developed Graphene Electronic Multiplexed Sensors (GEMS) platform. The device is the size of a penny and can be easily functionalized to sense four different analytes at the same time. The platform detects the presence of analytes attached to the graphene (single layer of carbon) electrically, with limits of detection relevant to clinical settings. It can be easily operated and is robust against different environments. I will discuss our demonstrations of its use for detecting antibiotic-resistant bacteria, decease biomarkers in saliva, and opioids in wastewater. 

Bioelectronics needs to continuously monitor mechanical and electrophysiological signals for patients. However, the signals always include artifacts by patients’ unexpected movement (such as walking and respiration under approximately 30 hertz). The current method to remove them is a signal process that uses a bandpass filter, which may cause signal loss. We present an unconventional bandpass filter material—viscoelastic gelatin-chitosan hydrogel damper, inspired by the viscoelastic cuticular pad in a spider—to remove dynamic mechanical noise artifacts selectively. The hydrogel exhibits frequency-dependent phase transition that results in a rubbery state that damps low-frequency noise and a glassy state that transmits the desired high-frequency signals. It serves as an adaptable passfilter that enables the acquisition of high-quality signals from patients while minimizing signal process for advanced bioelectronics.

The ability to harvest & convert energy over a wide band of the light spectrum, which includes visible and infrared, has tremendous value. Silicon-based photodetectors have currently become the mainstream technology. However, solution-processable photoactive materials such as halide perovskites and polymers with excellent photosensitivity, bandgap tunability, and solution processability provide an attractive material system to realize such inexpensive photodetectors.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain one of the leading causes of death worldwide. To improve therapeutic outcomes and reduce health care costs, a better understanding of disease-specific variation across cardiac patients is needed. 

Owing to their solution processing, lightweight wearable, power conversion efficiency, ready to deploy for extreme lightweight space, and reduced cost of constituent materials, perovskite solar cells have received interest in the recent years. High-quality perovskite films obtained by low-temperature fabrication methods and the development of appropriate interface and electrode materials propelled the efficiency of perovskite solar cells to 26% efficiency, with some margin for further improvement. Perovskite solar cells’ stabilization has also become an intense field of research, together with cost reduction. In the meantime, photodetectors were developed to cover the needs for enhanced robotics’ vision and free-space optical communications. 

The vast amount of biological mysteries and biomedical challenges faced by humans provide a prominent drive for seamlessly merging electronics with biological living systems (e.g. human bodies) to achieve long-term stable functions. 

Transparent conductors are not only the key component in touch panels but required for a wide spectrum of other applications. Indium-tin-oxide (ITO), which is the most industrialized transparent conductive materials, is not suitable for flexible electronics. 

Organic Electrochemical Transistors are seen as a key element for a fully flexible and wearable sensor technology. To systematically discuss trends in OECT experiments and to numerically optimize OECT performance, an experimentally validated device model is needed. Here, first steps towards such a model are described. A focus is put on a correct description of the steady-state and transient switching observed in OECTs.

Wireless systems are an essential component for autonomous electronic textile (e-textile) applications for both communications and the supply of power. Textiles provide a ubiquitous platform for wearable applications but their application goes far beyond clothing and they are also widely used in, for example,  industry, civil engineering, agriculture and the marine environment. The mechanical properties of textiles relating to strength, robustness, flexibility and comfort mean electronic systems have to be carefully engineered to avoid negatively impacting these properties and survive the rigours of use.

Progress in soft lithography and soft materials integration have led to extraordinary new classes of soft-matter sensors, circuits, and transducers.  These material technologies are composed almost entirely out of soft matter – elastomers, gels, and conductive fluids like liquid metal – and represent the building blocks for machines and electronics that are soft, flexible, and stretchable.  Because of their intrinsic compliance and elasticity, such devices can be incorporated into soft, biologically-inspired robots or be worn on the body and operate continuously without impairing natural body motion.