Switzerland develops new materials for use in pacemakers and garments

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology have developed a flexible new material. This thin and flexible rubber material can generate current when stretched and compressed. Applications include pacemakers and garments, etc. .

The piezoelectric effect makes this material possible. This effect is most common in analog record players because it can play music by reading the groove of the record. Through the piezoelectric effect, these vibrations are converted into electrical pulses that generate sound waves. The process of converting mechanical motion into electrical energy is also a change in materials created by researchers.

Dorina Opris and her colleagues have not only created an incredible material, they have already broken the boundaries of what we know about the piezoelectric effect. Prior to this, it was only observed in crystals, but Opris and her team proved that these characteristics can also exist in elastic materials.

Unfortunately, this exciting new material is not easy to produce. Polar nanoparticles and silica gel must be processed before they are attached. Then, a strong electric field is introduced into the thin, flexible film and the piezoelectric effect is created by exposing the material to extremely hot and then extremely cold temperatures.

This material is undoubtedly interesting. But in addition to novelty, it may also have a surprisingly large number of unique applications. Due to its thin, flexible, organic nature, it can be operated more seamlessly with the human body than bulky electronics.

Because of this, it is considered for use in pressure sensors, pacemakers and other medical devices. The material can also be used for garments, control buttons, or even wearable displays that can generate electrical current through the wearer's motion.