DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/WV47-BN71
Author ORCID Identifier
orcid.org/0000-0001-9501-8024
Defense Date
2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
First Advisor
Dr. W.Hong Yeo
Second Advisor
Dr. Ravi Hadimani
Third Advisor
Dr. Karla Mossi
Abstract
Soft material-enabled electronics can demonstrate extreme mechanical flexibility and stretchability. Such compliant, comfortable electronics allow continuous, long-term measurement of biopotentials on the skin. Manufacturing of the stretchable electronic devices is enabled by the recent development combining materials transfer printing and microfabrication. However, the existing method using inorganic materials and multi-layered polymers requires long material preparation time and expensive processing cost due to the requirement of microfabrication tools and complicated transfer printing steps. Here, this study develops a new fabrication method of soft electronics via a micro-replica-molding technique, which allows fast production, multiple use, and low cost by avoiding microfabrication and multiple transfer printing. The core materials, carbon nanomaterials integrated with soft elastomers, further reduces the entire production cost, compared to costly metals such as gold and silver, while offering mechanical compliance. Collectively, skin-wearable electrodes, designed by optimized materials and fabrication method enable a high-fidelity measurement of non-invasive electromyograms on the skin for advanced human-machine interface, targeting prosthesis.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-4-2017