South Korean researchers have an artificial skin developed which is sensitive for temperature, pressure and humidity. Also, the artificial skin at body temperature.
The artificial skin is made of transparent polydimethylsiloxane, a siliconensoort. In the elastic pdms material, the researchers have so-called nanoribbons are intertwined. These generate energy when the artificial skin is stretched or twisted. This allows the artificial skin ‘feel’, for example, whether an object is hot or cold, as the researchers say in the study that in the scientific journal Nature.
In the pdms material are also small capacitors. If the artificial skin absorbs moisture to change the storage options for electricity in the material. The capacitors can this difference to detect, which makes them humidity can detect.
The researchers used the artificial skin among other things tested in baby diapers. It was found that the material can determine whether a diaper is not wet. Also they managed to make the artificial skin at body temperature, so he is not cold to the touch in use.
With the material together, the researchers hope prosthetics to be able to cover. It is unclear how the information from the sensors should be redirected to the brain of, for example, someone that has a hand missing.
