Novel 3D-printable material could be used to develop biodegradable sensors
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A new 3D-printable sensor material with properties such as color changing, electrical conduction, and biodegradability has just been unveiled.
This innovation comes from researchers at Empa's Cellulose & Wood Materials laboratory in Dübendorf.
“Sustainable materials that can be 3D printed are of great interest, especially for applications in biodegradable electronics and the Internet of Things," said Gustav Nyström, the head of the laboratory.
The key characteristic of this sensor is its capacity to change colors to warn if anything has been too hot or has been subjected to too much stress.
Achieving color-change ability
This sensor comprises hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), a common excipient in medicines, cosmetics, and food products.
HPC was combined with water, carbon nanotubes, and cellulose nanofibrils to create this biodegradable material.
At first, HPC was mixed with water to create liquid crystals. “These crystals have a remarkable property: Depending on their structure – which itself depends on the concentration of HPC, among other things – they shimmer in different colors, although they themselves have no color or pigment. This phenomenon is called structural coloring,” explained the official release.
This principle occurs naturally in peacock feathers, butterfly wings, and chameleon skin.
Furthermore, the capacity of this cellulose-based material to change color was obtained by introducing a small amount of carbon nanotubes to a combination of HPC and water. This increased its electrical conductivity. As a result, when a voltage was given to the material, its temperature rose, and the crystals changed color.
However, the team must address several color-changing parameters before this material becomes mainstream. "There are still many open questions about how structural coloring is generated and changes with different additives and environmental conditions," added Nyström.
The application of this sensor material
The team says this sensor material can also be 3D-printed. This biodegradable mixture was combined with cellulose nanofibers to make it efficient for 3D printing. This modification allowed the material to be 3D-printed without changing its structural color or conductivity.
According to the official release, they employed this new cellulose mixture to 3D print various potential applications, including a "strain sensor that changes color in response to mechanical deformation."
“Our lab has already developed different disposable electronic components based on cellulose, such as batteries and sensors. This is the first time we were able to develop a cellulose-based display,” said Xavier Aeby, one of the developers.
The cellulose-based ink might be used to produce sensors for food quality monitoring and biomedical diagnostics in the future. The newly developed can also be used to create electronic displays one day.
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