Grapheal (Grenoble, France) is a Graphene Flagship associate member with experience creating pioneering graphene-based wearable patches for the remote monitoring of chronic wounds. Now, they have raised €1.9M in seed financing from Belgian incubator Novalis Biotech and private investors to further develop this technology, as well as to advance the creation of a digital, high-speed test for COVID-19. Thanks to the high sensitivity of graphene, this novel device would improve screening activities in high traffic areas, such as airports.
Nanoengineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a “wearable microgrid” that harvests and stores energy from the human body to power small electronics. It consists of three main parts: sweat-powered biofuel cells, motion-powered devices called triboelectric generators, and energy-storing supercapacitors. All parts are flexible, washable and can be screen printed onto clothing.
Lightweight, thin, flexible and stretchable: These properties make organic and printed electronics the ideal choice for medical monitoring systems that fit closely on the skin like a band-aid. In these times of the pandemic, such new developments are particularly in demand. At the LOPEC Conference which will take place online from 23 to 25 March 2021, Prof John A. Rogers from the U.S. Northwestern University will provide information about the technology. In an interview, he outlined the specific advantages of printed electronics and presented innovations from his laboratory.
