. 24/7 Space News .
ENERGY TECH
UCLA bioengineers develop new class of human-powered bioelectronics
by Staff Writers
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 01, 2021

UCLA-designed self-powered, stretchable, waterproof magnetoelastic generator for bioelectronics.

A team of bioengineers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering has invented a novel soft and flexible self-powered bioelectronic device. The technology converts human body motions - from bending an elbow to subtle movements such as a pulse on one's wrist - into electricity that could be used to power wearable and implantable diagnostic sensors.

The researchers discovered that the magnetoelastic effect, which is the change of how much a material is magnetized when tiny magnets are constantly pushed together and pulled apart by mechanical pressure, can exist in a soft and flexible system - not just one that is rigid. To prove their concept, the team used microscopic magnets dispersed in a paper-thin silicone matrix to generate a magnetic field that changes in strength as the matrix undulated. As the magnetic field's strength shifts, electricity is generated.

Nature Materials published a research study detailing the discovery, the theoretical model behind the breakthrough and the demonstration. The research is also highlighted by Nature.

"Our finding opens up a new avenue for practical energy, sensing and therapeutic technologies that are human-body-centric and can be connected to the Internet of Things," said study leader Jun Chen, an assistant professor of bioengineering at UCLA Samueli.

"What makes this technology unique is that it allows people to stretch and move with comfort when the device is pressed against human skin, and because it relies on magnetism rather than electricity, humidity and our own sweat do not compromise its effectiveness."

Chen and his team built a small, flexible magnetoelastic generator (about the size of a U.S. quarter) made of a platinum-catalyzed silicone polymer matrix and neodymium-iron-boron nanomagnets. They then affixed it to a subject's elbow with a soft, stretchy silicone band.

The magnetoelastic effect they observed was four times greater than similarly sized setups with rigid metal alloys. As a result, the device generated electrical currents of 4.27 milliamperes per square centimeter, which is 10,000 times better than the next best comparable technology.

In fact, the flexible magnetoelastic generator is so sensitive that it could convert human pulse waves into electrical signals and act as a self-powered, waterproof heart-rate monitor. The electricity generated can also be used to sustainably power other wearable devices, such as a sweat sensor or a thermometer.

There have been ongoing efforts to make wearable generators that harvest energy from human body movements to power sensors and other devices, but the lack of practicality has hindered such progress. For example, rigid metal alloys with magnetoelastic effect do not bend sufficiently to compress against the skin and generate meaningful levels of power for viable applications.

Other devices that rely on static electricity tend not to generate enough energy. Their performance can also suffer in humid conditions, or when there is sweat on the skin. Some have tried to encapsulate such devices in order to keep water out, but that cuts down their effectiveness. The UCLA team's novel wearable magnetoelastic generators, however, tested well even after being soaked in artificial perspiration for a week.

"Giant magnetoelastic effect in soft systems for bioelectronics"


Related Links
Henry Samueli School of Engineering
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


ENERGY TECH
Fabricating MgB2 superconductors using spark plasma sintering and pulse magnetization
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Sep 24, 2021
Since the discovery of the superconductivity phenomena in 1911, scientists have been on the lookout for feasible materials that reach their superconducting state at higher temperatures, enabling them to be operated with cheaper coolants or advanced cryocoolers. Out of the many types of viable materials, MgB2 superconductors have an operating temperature of 39 K, which lies between conventional metallic superconductors and high-temperature cuprate superconductors. It occupies a unique position wher ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

ENERGY TECH
NASA TV coverage set for Russian film production mission launch

FAA clears Virgin Galactic to resume flights after investigation

Soyuz docks to new Nauka module port at ISS

Virgin Galactic cleared to launch after US closes safety probe

ENERGY TECH
Ariane 6 launch complex inaugurated at Europe's Spaceport

FAA clears Virgin Galactic to resume flights after investigation

NASA seeks input from potential partners on next generation astromobile

DARPA'S Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept achieves successful flight

ENERGY TECH
NASA plans careful restart for Mars helicopter after quiet period

Lake breach flooding played big role in Martian geography

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria help clover plants grow in Mars-like soil

Spin test a success, but Ingenuity Flight 14 delayed until after conjunction

ENERGY TECH
China opens Shenzhou-12 return capsule at ceremony

China's cargo craft docks with space station core module

China brings astronauts back, advances closer to "space station era"

Chinese astronauts return to Earth after 90-day mission

ENERGY TECH
Satellite maker Terran Orbital plans major plant in Florida

India to revise FDI policy for space sector, says ISRO chief Sivan

Adaptable optical communications to facilitate future low-earth orbit networks

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites into orbit from West Coast

ENERGY TECH
Urban mining for metals flashes forward

New model simplifies orbital radar trade-off studies for environmental monitoring

Beam diagnostics for future laser wakefield accelerators

In Siberia, a copper mine hopes to become a global energy pivot

ENERGY TECH
'Planet confusion' could slow Earth-like exoplanet exploration

Bare Super-Earths offer clues to evolution of hot atmospheres

Cloud-spotting on a distant exoplanet

Cloudy days on exoplanets may hide atmospheric water

ENERGY TECH
Hubble shows winds in Jupiter's Great Red Spot are speeding up

Come on in, the water is superionic

Mushballs stash away missing ammonia at Uranus and Neptune

A few steps closer to Europa: spacecraft hardware makes headway









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.