Graphene breakthrough may lead to first truly flexible e-skin

London

Researchers have developed a pioneering new technique to produce high-quality, low cost graphene that could pave the way for the creation of the first truly flexible 'electronic skin', which could be used in robots.

Researchers from the University of Exeter, UK, have discovered an innovative new method to produce the wonder material graphene significantly cheaper, and easier, than previously possible.

The research team, led by Professor Monica Craciun, have used this new technique to create the first transparent and flexible touch-sensor that could enable the development of artificial skin for use in robot manufacturing.

Craciun, fromExeter's Engineering department, believes the new discovery could pave the way for "a graphene-driven industrial revolution" to take place.

"Currently, industrial graphene is produced using a technique called Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD). Although there have been significant advances in recent years in this technique, it is still an expensive and time consuming process," she said.

TheExeterresearchers have now discovered a new technique, which grows graphene in an industrial cold wall CVD system, a state-of-the-art piece of equipment recently developed byUKgraphene company Moorfield.

This so-called nanoCVD system is based on a concept already used for other manufacturing purposes in the semiconductor industry.

This new technique grows graphene 100 times faster than conventional methods, reduces costs by 99 per cent and has enhanced electronic quality, researchers said.

The research team used this new technique to create the first graphene-based transparent and flexible touch sensor.

The team believes that the sensor can be used not just to create more flexible electronics, but also a truly-flexible electronic skin that could be used to revolutionise robots of the future.

"Emerging flexible and wearable technologies such as healthcare electronics and energy-harvesting devices could be transformed by the unique properties of graphene," said Dr Thomas Bointon, from Moorfield Nanotechnology and former PhD student in Craciun's team atExeter.

"The extremely cost efficient procedure that we have developed for preparing graphene is of vital importance for the quick industrial exploitation of graphene," he said.

The findings are published in the journal Advanced Materials. — PTI