Wearable Device Powered by Bending Finger and Stores Memories: Revolutionary Advancement in Health Monitoring
Researchers have made a groundbreaking development with an experimental wearable device that can generate power from a user’s bending finger while also having the ability to create and store memories. This remarkable achievement is a significant stride towards advanced health monitoring and other innovative technologies.
This wearable device is based on a nanomaterial integrated into a flexible casing designed to fit comfortably on a finger. The nanomaterial enables the device to generate power when the user bends their finger. Moreover, its ultra-thin composition allows for memory-related functions.
Unlike multifaceted devices that require complex layering of different materials, the team led by RMIT University and the University of Melbourne, in collaboration with other Australian and international institutions, has successfully developed a proof-of-concept device. They utilized bismuth, a low-temperature liquid metal rust known for its safety and suitability for wearable applications. Dr. Ali Zavabeti, the senior lead researcher, envisions the potential of this invention to lead to the creation of medical wearables capable of monitoring vital signs.
The device demonstrates responsiveness to human activities, particularly stretching, making it a promising candidate for wearable technologies. In tests involving natural motion behavior with the device attached to a finger joint, an average output peak of around 1 volt was recorded.
The device also excels in memory functions, such as reading, writing, and erasing. The team was able to inscribe and store images, including the RMIT logo and a square-shaped insignia, in a space smaller than the width of a human hair. The printing technique for bismuth rust, also known as oxide, was found to be rapid.
This research highlights the immense potential of engineering materials at the nanoscale in various applications, ranging from sensory functions to energy harvesting and memory capabilities. Bismuth oxide can be tailored to provide critical memory functionality and serve as a semiconductor for computational purposes. It is also an efficient nanogenerator, harnessing energy from environmental vibrations and mechanical movements.
Furthermore, bismuth oxide is less likely to cause skin irritation compared to silicon, and it offers durability and integration potential in wearable technologies. The team is eager to collaborate with industry partners for further development and prototyping, aiming to apply their methodology to different low-temperature liquid and solid metals and alloys.
The findings of this research were published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. This endeavor holds the promise of advancing personalized wearables to a greater extent.
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