Scientists from La Trob University (Australia) have created an important breakthrough in technology to create transparent materials, conducted for smart devices, using a famous ingredient from cosmetic cream – hyaluronic acid.
This finding may change the future of the electronic device that can be worn, sensory screen, device and biomedical sensor. The results are published in the ACS magazine application and interface.
Exactly what was created?
The group of researchers developed an extremely, transparent and flexible polymer with the properties of metal – it completely conducted electricity, while almost invisible to the naked eye. This material is called 2D Pedot. The main thing in it is the ability to combine the conductivity, strength and transparency, which is extremely important for modern technologies.
What is innovation?
There is still a serious problem: to create electrical conductive polymers simultaneously thin, transparent, flexible and stable, it is very difficult. Typically, such materials either perform electricity poorly, or not transparent, or their properties are not stable and difficult to repeat.
The researchers have found a way to make materials that can be reduced and produced in large quantities with equally high quality. This means that future devices may be thinner, easier and less attention, while maintaining high performance.
How do they do that?
The key point is the use of hyaluronic acid, often found in moisturizers and facial serum. Scientists have applied Hyaluronic Acid directly to the golden surface. This has given a thin film formation – a polymer acting as a metal, but almost invisible.
The method used by scientists is called
“Gentle in impurities are tied.” This is a complex name, but in fact, that means they learned how to accurately control the creation of a thin movie. They controlled the shape, transparency and the ability to conduct electricity, adding special substances (metal impurities), attached to some places in the material. This makes it strong, flexible and effective.
What are the actual benefits?
Such transparent and flexible conductors are extremely important for future devices:
- Biosensors and medical implants can monitor health status and provide drugs.
- The device can be worn with a sensory screen, which will be thin and almost invisible.
- Smartphones and other mobile devices with improved properties.
According to the leading researcher, the scientific candidate Louise Agiar Du Nasiment:
We were very excited, discovered that polymers were not only exposed to gold, but also they were thinner, stronger and almost reliable to reproduce. Associate Professor Ren Green said: The polymers are often very difficult to implement: they do not always perform well, not transparent and have different attributes. We may have hacked code with our new approach.
Why Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a clear substance that is familiar to cosmetologists. It retains moisture and helps the skin are still young and moist. But in this study, it does not act as a cosmetic ingredient, but a construction unit to create a completely new material, has become an unexpected and interesting use of the usual substance.
Scientists are sure that their discovery will start a new era in the development of flexible and transparent electronics, which is especially important for medical technologies and smart devices.
Dr. Simon Moraes Silva, Director of the Center for Research on Biomedical and Environmental Sensation Technology, Note: This innovation can change the future of equipment used in health care, especially to monitor patients and provide drugs.
