Scientists Develop Ultra-Thin 'Electronic Skin' for the Human Skin

Japanese scientists from the University of Tokyo developed a super-flexible electronic skin that is made from organic electronics, which are composed of carbon-based polymers. This ultra-thin material can simulate the flexibility of the human skin.

The study was issued in Science Advances, according to Washington Post. The "e-skins" could be used for many purposes, from monitoring vital signs to making wearable electronics. It could allow the hospitals to examine the vital signs of the patients. It can also turn the smartwatch visible onto your palm or wherever you want them.

Imagine having skin that could light up like a neon sign? https://t.co/pkM1jkOMrn

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 19, 2016

Takao Someya, one of the authors of the study and a professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Tokyo, said that functionalizing the skin may swap the smartphone in the future. She said that if you carry an iPhone, it is a bulky device. On the other hand, in "e-skin," you don't need to carry anything and you can receive information anywhere and anytime.

The researchers used the same process like the way organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays but these generally degrade in the air. These are often manufactured for TVs and smartphones. On the other hand, the organic electronics, which e-skin is made of does not degrade when exposed to air.

The researchers also created a protective coating that can shelter the electronic components from the air, according to LiveScience. They called the protective coating a passivation layer. It keeps out oxygen and water vapor enough to keep a light working for few days.

They made organic polymer light-emitting modes (PLEDs) in three colors such as blue, green and red. The lights will turn on and off when it is hit by electrical pulses. As you can see in the video below, there are seven red bars that shape into letters and numbers, like having a calculator on your hand. Someya said that the e-skin they developed can be directly laminated on the surface of the skin. This allows to electronically functionalizing the skin.