Engineering news
Researchers from National Graphene Institute (NGI) at The University of Manchester, along with Trinity College Dublin, have used graphene to make the children’s material Silly Putty (boric acid-treated polysilicone) conduct electricity and create extremely sensitive sensors.
This research offers possibilities for applications in inexpensive devices and diagnostics in medicine and other sectors.
The researcher discovered that the electrical resistance of putty infused with graphene (‘G-putty’) was extremely sensitive to the slightest deformation or impact.
They mounted the G-putty onto the chest and neck of human subjects and used it to measure breathing, pulse and even blood pressure. It showed unprecedented sensitivity as a sensor for strain and pressure, hundreds of times more sensitive than current sensors, according to the researchers.
Robert Young, professor of polymer science and technology said: “It will have many future applications in sensors, particularly in the field of healthcare.”
The material was developed at Trinity College Dublin. The NGI contributed to the work through analysing the structure of the material and were then able to develop a mathematical model of the deformation of the material to explain the effect of its structure upon its mechanical and electrical properties.
Professor Jonathan Coleman said: “Silly Putty is different from familiar materials in that it flows like a viscous liquid when deformed slowly but bounces like an elastic solid when thrown against a surface.
“The electrical resistance of the G-putty was very sensitive and increased sharply on even the slightest strain or impact. Unusually, the resistance slowly returned close to its original value as the putty self-healed over time.”
Graphene, the world’s first two-dimensional material, was first isolated in 2004 at The University of Manchester.
The team’s findings have been published in the journal
Science.