Bioengineers Develop New Class of Giant Magnetoelastic Effect Human-Powered Bioelectronics.

A team of bioengineers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering has invented a new soft, flexible, self-powered bioelectronic device. This technology can convert human movements into electricity, from bending elbows to subtle movements such as the pulse of the wrist, to power wearable and implantable diagnostic sensors.

Researchers have found that the magnetic elasticity effect, which is the change in the amount of material magnetized when small magnets are constantly pressed and pulled apart by mechanical pressure, exists not only in rigid systems, but also in soft and flexible systems. I have discovered that there is a possibility of doing so. To prove their concept, the team used fine magnets dispersed in a paper-thin silicone matrix to create a magnetic field whose strength changes as the matrix undulates. When the strength of the magnetic field changes, electricity is generated.

Nature Materials A research study published today (September 30, 2021) details the discoveries, the theoretical models behind breakthroughs, and demonstrations.The study is also emphasized by Nature..

“Our discoveries open up new avenues for practical energy, sensing, and therapeutic technologies that enable the human-centered connection to the Internet of Things,” said Jun Chen, an assistant professor of bioengineering at UCLA Sameri. Stated. “The uniqueness of this technology is that people can comfortably stretch and move when the device is pressed against human skin, and because it relies on magnetism rather than electricity, humidity and us. Your sweat does not compromise its effectiveness. “

Chen and his team built a small, flexible magnetic elastic generator (one-quarter the size of the United States) made of platinum-catalyzed silicone polymer matrix and neodymium-iron-boron nanomagnets. It was then secured to the subject’s elbow with a soft, stretchy silicone band. The magnetic elasticity effect they observed was four times greater than a similar size setup using hard metal alloys. As a result, the device generated 4.27mA per square centimeter. This is 10,000 times better than the next best equivalent technology.

In fact, the flexible magnetic elasticity generator is so sensitive that it can 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 sweat sensors and thermometers.

Continued efforts have been made to create wearable generators that collect energy from human movements into power sensors and other devices, but lack of practicality has hampered such progress. For example, hard metal alloys with a magnetic elastic effect do not bend enough to compress against the skin, producing a level of power that is meaningful for a viable application.

Other devices that rely on static electricity tend not to generate enough energy. Their performance can also be reduced in high humidity conditions and when sweat is attached to the skin. Some people try to encapsulate such devices to prevent water, but that reduces their effectiveness. However, the UCLA team’s new wearable magnetic elastic generator has been thoroughly tested even after being soaked in artificial sweat for a week.

Reference: “Giant Magnetic Elasticity Effect in Soft Systems for Bioelectronics” September 30, 2021 Nature Materials..
DOI: 10.1038 / s41563-021-01093-1

UCLA Postdoctoral Fellow Yihao Zhou and Graduate Student Xun Zhao are co-lead authors of this study. Both direct the Wearable Bioelectronics Group at UCLA and are advised by Chen, a member of the UCLA Society of Hellman Fellows. Other authors are UCLA graduate students Jing Xu and Guorui Chen, postdoctoral researchers Yunsheng Fang and Yang Song, and professor and chairman of the Bioengineering Division, Song Li.

A patent on this technology has been filed by the UCLA Technology Development Group.

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