Stretchable metal oxide films herald a revolution in wearable electronics

Associate Professor Madhu Bhaskaran from RMIT University—an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award recipient and winner of the 2017 Eureka Prize for Outstanding Early Career Researcher—is developing materials that incorporate novel stretchable and wearable electronics.

These novel materials can be used for wearable ultraviolet (UV) sensors, gas detection, and flat optics that would remove the need for bulky camera lenses. For example, by monitoring the amount of UV exposure a person has during the day, and producing an instant report that loads to a smartphone device, such electronics could help reduce the occurrence of skin cancer.

Associate Professor Bhaskaran’s research has also benefited from several ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities scheme grants, awarded to collaborations involving researchers at RMIT University, The University of Melbourne and Monash University, for facilities that fabricate, image and characterise nanostructured materials.

	Professor Bhaskaran’s research team is revolutionising the field of wearable, transparent electronics by embedding electronic devices in nano-structured metal oxide films within flexible and transparent biocompatible elastomers.

 

Image: Associate Professor Madhu Bhaskaran. Image credit: RMIT University.