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. 

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.