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The Future of Human-Machine Interfaces
Reviewed by Dr Srikanth Ponnada
The Future of Human-Machine Interfaces
Graphene aerogels have been acknowledged for their potential in creating advanced pressure sensors crucial for future human-machine interfaces, due to their distinctive microstructure and conductive characteristics. Nonetheless, the application of these materials has the rigidity of their porous structure, which restricts the range of strain sensing.
A group of scientists from University of Alberta, Northumbria University, and Xi’an Jiaotong University has made significant advancements in material science with the development of anisotropic cross-linked chitosan and reduced graphene oxide (CCS-rGO) aerogels. This innovative metamaterial is created by altering the conventional honeycomb microstructure into a structured buckling network, which greatly improves its mechanical characteristics. The recently developed CCS-rGO aerogel demonstrates outstanding directional hyper elasticity and impressive durability, showing no notable structural damage following 20,000 cycles of directional compressive strain of 0.7 or lower. These advancements indicate promising opportunities for CCS-rGO aerogels across various applications, representing a notable progression in the discipline.
"A Game-Changer for Human-Machine Interface Sensors"
The CCS-rGO aerogel sensor is characterized by several important features
Extraordinary Sensitivity Featuring a sensitivity of 121.45 kPa⁻¹, it is capable of identifying even the slightest pressure variations.
Innovative Sensing Range The latest design facilitates an extensive range of pressure detection.
Impressive Performance The aerogel exhibits a strength retention of 76.2% following rigorous compression cycles.
In conclusion, the production of CCS-rGO aerogel metamaterials signifies a significant progress in the field of pressure sensor technology. Featuring exceptional sensitivity, durability, and an extensive sensing range, these aerogels are set to significantly impact the future of human-machine interactions.
Illustration of aerogel graphene.
(Image credits to authors https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c03706, reproduced with permission from ACS publications).
Reference & Suggested Reading
Wang, Y., Qin, Z., Wang, D., Liu, D., Wang, Z., Jazzar, A., He, P., Guo, Z., Chen, X., Jia, C. and He, X., 2024. Microstructure-Reconfigured Graphene Oxide Aerogel Metamaterials for Ultrarobust Directional Sensing at Human–Machine Interfaces. Nano Letters. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c03706.
Authored by Jyoti Verma
Jyoti Verma M.Sc
-Junior Scientific Content Author
Jyoti, as an accomplished researcher in the field of Physics, currently pursuing a PhD from Helmholtz zentrum dresden rossendorf, Germany. She holds a master's degree from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, having passed the IIT Joint Admission Test. She started her research journey with an internship at the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, where she investigated ozone variation in the troposphere. Continuing to pursue her passion for atmospheric and physical sciences, they worked as research assistant at Academia Sinica, Taiwan. Her academic excellence is recognized with numerous awards, including the Gargi Award, Indira Priyadarshini Award, and the DST-Inspire Scholarship. Her strong interest in scientific writing led her to contribute as an author to SCIATLAS.
