石墨烯(Graphene)的提出顛覆了穿戴式科技的遊戲規則 | Shaping The Future Of Wearables: New Technique Embeds Flexible Graphene Electrodes Into Clothes

圖為電影「關鍵報告Minority Report」中出現的未來穿戴式裝置

石墨烯(Graphene)的提出顛覆了穿戴式科技的遊戲規則

一個研究小組已經成功地開發出他們所謂的世界上第一個真正的電子紡織品，這可能為下一代的可穿戴式電子設備鋪路，像是附加了電腦、手機和MP3播放器的成衣，特色是輕便、耐用、易攜的。

這項突破取決於一種新的嵌入方式，把透明、彈性的石墨烯電極紡成纖維。

“這是可穿戴電子設備未來的關鍵點。”，Exeter 大學教授也是共同研究者 Monica Craciun 補充說。

“這是一個紡織電極被真正嵌入紗線的首例，其使用的可能性是無止境的，包括紡織GPS系統、生物醫學監測、人身安全或甚至做為感官知覺障礙的溝通工具。唯一的限制可能只有我們自己的想像力”。

石墨烯只有一個碳原子的厚度，是能夠導電的最薄物質。它具有彈性，並且是已知最堅固的材料之一。科學家們發現了一種在銅箔中培養石墨烯，然後將其轉移到聚丙烯纖維的方法。

“可穿戴技術的概念正在成形，但至今仍不存在充分的透明和彈性的紡織嵌入技術。石墨烯在紡織領域一體化進程和工程的發展，將成為商業應用的新契機。“， 來自INESC-MN 及 Aveiro 大學的研發團隊領導人 Helena Alves 博士表示。

“在布料中加入電子設備無疑將是一個改變遊戲規則的現代技術。”，來自Exeter的工程學系Craciun教授的團隊副研究員，也是INESC的前博士後研究員Dr Ana Neves補充。

“所有的電子設備都需要配接線路，因此，這項策略首要解決的問題在於開發導電紡織纖維，同時保持相同的形貌、舒適性和光澤亮度。我們已開發出一種藉由將石墨烯塗布在纖維上的方法去製備透明與導電的紡織纖維，能讓電子設備與紡織品融合成為一體”。

這個國際科學團隊，包括Exeter大學石墨烯研究中心、位於里斯本的系統工程和電腦研究所、微系統和納米技術研究所（INESC-MN）、葡萄牙的里斯本大學及阿威羅大學和比利時的紡織研究中心（CenTexBel）的專家，都先後發表了這一研究成果的科學報告。

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【新聞來源：台灣紡拓會】

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Shaping The Future Of Wearables: New Technique Embeds Flexible Graphene Electrodes Into Clothes

Soon, we may be able to wear clothing that embeds mp3 players and phones and is lightweight and durable at the same time.

How? It's thanks to a new technology that has been pioneered by a team of researchers who have managed to embed flexible graphene electrodes into clothes.

Monica Craciun, a professor at the University of Exeter, along with a team of international scientists, has forged a new technique in which transparent graphene electrodes can be embedded into fibers that are commonly manufactured by the textile industry.

The discovery could potentially propel and shape future wearable electronic devices.

"This a pivotal point in the future of wearable electronic devices. The potential has been there for a number of years, and transparent and flexible electrodes are already widely used in plastics and glass, for example. But this is the first example of a textile electrode being truly embedded in a yarn," says Professor Craciun, co-author of the research.

For the purpose of the current study, the researchers found a technique in which they could relocate graphene from the copper foils onto a polypropylene fiber.

The researchers discovered that "monolayer graphene," which is not only transparent, but also has fantastic mechanical, electrical and optical properties, is a good bet for use in wearable electronic devices. The scientists grew the graphene used using the CVD or chemical vapor deposition method on copper foil. They deployed a top-end nanoCVD system for the purpose.

The possibilities of this technique are limitless, and as Professor Craciun notes, they could be deployed in textile GPS systems, personal security and even biomedical monitoring.

Graphene is one of the strongest known substances to mankind. It is also the thinnest — at one atom thick — and is a good conductor of electricity.

In recent years, both engineers and researchers have invested their efforts in finding ways for using graphene in wearable electronic devices.

"The development of processes and engineering for the integration of graphene in textiles would give rise to a new universe of commercial applications," opined lead researcher Helena Alves of the University of Aveiro.

Original Article: TECH TIMES