All-Solid-State Textile Batteries Made from Nano-Emulsion Conducting Polymer Inks for Wearable Electronics.

A rollable and all-solid-state textile lithium battery based on fabric matrix and polymer electrolyte that allows flexibility and fast-charging capability is reported. When immerged into poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nano-emulsion inks, an insulating fabric is converted into a conductive battery electrode for a fully solid state lithium battery with the highest specific energy capacity of 68 mAh/g. This is superior to most of the solid-state conducting polymer primary and/or secondary batteries reported.

Elastic components for prosthetic skin.

We have developed two fundamental components to manufacture a prosthetic skin: a stretchable pressure sensor formed of piezoelectric elastomer/ferroelectret multilayer sandwiched between stretchable electrodes and stretchable thin-film transistors. The components are prepared and embedded in silicone rubber, a polymer, which mimics the mechanical compliance of human skin. We demonstrate the stretchability of the sensory unit.

Sensory motor systems of artificial and natural hands.

The surgeon Ambroise Paré designed an anthropomorphic hand for wounded soldiers in the 16th century. Since that time, there have been advances in technology through the use of computer-aided design, modern materials, electronic controllers and sensors to realise artificial hands which have good functionality and reliability. Data from touch, object slip, finger position and temperature sensors, mounted in the fingers and on the palm, can be used in feedback loops to automatically hold objects.