Applied Materials

Flexible electronic skin aids human-machine interactions

Human skin contains sensitive nerve cells that detect pressure, temperature and other sensations that allow tactile interactions with the environment. To help robots and prosthetic devices attain these abilities, scientists are trying to develop electronic skins.

Breakthroughs in 3D printing Kapton, the ultimate polymer

Researchers have developed a new process to 3D print one of the most-desired materials in the electronics and aerospace industries.

Fabric alternative to batteries

A major factor holding back development of wearable biosensors for health monitoring is the lack of a lightweight, long-lasting power supply. Now scientists report that they have developed a method for making a charge-storing system that is easily integrated into clothing for "embroidering a charge-storing pattern onto any garment."

Color-changing contact lens to monitor disease

For all the good they do, eye drops and ointments have one major drawback: It's hard to tell how much of the medication is actually getting to the eye. Now scientists report that they have developed a contact lens that changes color as drugs are released. This visual indicator could help eye doctors and patients readily determine whether these medications are where they should be.

VDL FLOW

VDL provides contract manufacturing - from cars and electric buses to manufacturing machines for flexible electronics. This profile focuses on their work with flexible/printed electronics.

Stretchy wires for the future

Scientists have teamed up to create stretchable, flexible wires that conduct current and change colors to indicate they're about to reach the breaking point. Future uses could be wearable electronics, biomedical devices and soft robots.

Paving the way to highly stretchable and transparent electronics

Scientists have proposed a novel method for the fabrication of highly transparent, electrically conductive, stretchable tough hydrogels modified by single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Compact and flexible supercapacitor developed

A lightweight, compact and efficient supercapacitor printed on a flexible plastic sheet has been developed by researchers.

Newport Corporation

Newport are a manufacturer of photonics products. The company have a laser business division and manufacture a variety of laser types. Many of the fiber lasers sold by Newport are produced by its subsidiary, Spectra-Physics (USA). The fiber lasers are suitable for material processing, sensing (LiDAR) and healthcare applications. Newport largely operate as an independent company but is a subsidiary of MKS Instruments (USA) since 2016.

Crumple up this keyboard and stick it in your pocket

Bendable portable keyboards for use with computers and other electronic devices are already on the market, but they have limited flexibility, and they're fairly sizable when rolled up for transport. Now researchers have crafted an inexpensive keyboard that is so tough, flexible and thin that it can be crumpled up and tucked in a pocket without damaging it.

3D-printed smart gel walks underwater, moves objects

Engineers have created a 3D-printed smart gel that walks underwater and grabs objects and moves them. The watery creation could lead to soft robots that mimic sea animals like the octopus, which can walk underwater and bump into things without damaging them. It may also lead to artificial heart, stomach and other muscles, along with devices for diagnosing diseases, detecting and delivering drugs and performing underwater inspections.

Strain sensing textiles to monitor movement

Researchers have engineered the next generation of wearable technology, using strain sensing textile fibres to create clothing that keeps track of its wearer's movements.