Research

Creating metal molds for directional gecko-inspired adhesives

Prof. Mark Cutkosky et al describe a novel process for creating multi-use, metal molds for the fabrication of dry adhesives that require microscopic, wedge-shapes and other challenging features.

Efficient and trustworthy social navigation via explicit and implicit robot–human communication

Prof. Allison Okamura, Prof. Dorsa Sadigh and Yuhang Che present a planning framework for navigation in which a robot communicates its intent to yield to a human crossing its path through the human’s wearable haptic interface and by slowing down.

Decoupling of mechanical properties and ionic conductivity in supramolecular lithium ion conductors

Profs Yi Cui, Zhenan Bao et al demonstrate an intrinsically stretchable Li ion battery and discuss the SLIC system of tough ion-conducting materials for future conformable and stretchable electrochemical devices.

Recent progress and future prospects for skin-attachable devices for health monitoring, robotics, and prosthetics

Prof. Zhenan Bao et al provide a thorough review of e-skin research and summarize current challenges for enabling future technology.

Wearable organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) sensor patch for human perspiration

Prof. Alberto Salleo et al report the integration of ammonium and calcium ion‐selective membranes with an OECT for multiplexed sensing of NH4+ and Ca2+ in sweat with high sensitivity and selectivity.

Polymer chemistries underpinning materials for skin-inspired electronics

Prof. Zhenan Bao et al discuss chemistry that can enable self-healing, stretchable/elastic, conformal, transient, and/or adhesive functionality in future wearable devices.

Multi-scale ordering in highly stretchable polymer semiconducting films

Prof. Zhenan Bao, Prof. Boris Murmann et al report a solution processing approach that may serve as the basis for large-area manufacturing of stretchable semiconducting films.

A wireless body area sensor network (bodyNET) based on stretchable passive tag

Prof. Zhenan Bao et al report a bodyNET composed of chip-free and battery-free stretchable on-skin sensor tags that are wirelessly linked to flexible readout circuits attached to textiles.

Temperature regulation in colored infrared-transparent polyethylene textiles

Prof. Yi Cui et al report the first demonstration of colored polyethylene textiles with high IR transparency for radiative cooling.

Low-voltage high-performance flexible digital and analog circuits based on ultrahigh-purity semiconducting carbon nanotubes

Zhenan Bao et al demonstrate a tunable-gain amplifier, ring oscillators, and shift registers using carbon nanotube thin film transistors.