The technology, described in a\u00a0paper\u00a0published in January in the journal Advanced Materials Technologies, shows that by tearing tissue paper that\u2019s loaded with nanocomposites and breaking the paper\u2019s fibers, the paper acts as a sensor. It can detect a heartbeat, finger force, finger movement, eyeball movement and more, said\u00a0Jae-Hyun Chung,\u00a0a UW associate professor of mechanical engineering and senior author of the research.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe major innovation is a disposable wearable sensor made with cheap tissue paper,\u201d said Chung. \u201cWhen we break the specimen, it will work as a sensor.\u201d<\/p>\n
These small, Band Aid-sized sensors could have a variety of applications in various fields. For example, monitoring a person\u2019s gait or the movement of their eyes can be used to inspect brain function or a game player\u2019s actions. The sensor could track how a special-needs child walks in a home test, sparing the child the need for hospital visits. Or the sensors could be used in occupational therapy for seniors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can use these sensors and after one-time use, they can be thrown away,\u201d said Chung.<\/p>\n
In their research, the scientists used paper similar to toilet tissue. The paper \u2013 nothing more than conventional paper towels\u00a0\u2013 is then doused with carbon nanotube-laced water. Carbon nanotubes are tiny materials that create electrical conductivity. Each piece of tissue paper has both horizontal and vertical fibers, so when the paper is torn, the direction of the tear informs the sensor of what\u2019s happened. To trace eye movement, they\u2019re attached to a person\u2019s reading glasses.<\/p>\n
For now, the work has been contained to a laboratory, and researchers are hoping to find a suitable commercial use. A provisional patent was filed in December 2017.<\/p>\n
The paper\u2019s lead author is UW College of Engineering graduate student Jinyuan Zhang. Other co-authors include undergraduate student Cerwyn Chiew; mechanical engineering professors\u00a0Minoru Taya\u00a0and\u00a0Dayong Gao; aeronautics and astronautics professor\u00a0Jinkyu Yang\u00a0and postdoctoral scholar\u00a0Gil-Yong Lee, all of the UW; and graduate student Fabrice Fondjo and professor\u00a0Jong-Hoon Kim\u00a0of Washington State University Vancouver.<\/p>\n
The study was funded partially by Samsung Research America through the Think Tank Team Award.<\/p>\n