Materials and methods for sustainable soft devices: from biodegradable tough gels to mycelium-based electronic skins

Martin Kaltenbrunner

doi:10.1117/12.2688260

17 October 2023 Materials and methods for sustainable soft devices: from biodegradable tough gels to mycelium-based electronic skins

Martin Kaltenbrunner

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume PC12741, Advanced Materials, Biomaterials, and Manufacturing Technologies for Security and Defence; PC1274101 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2688260
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2023, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

Modern societies rely on a multitude of electronic and robotic systems, with emerging stretchable and soft devices enabling ever closer human machine interactions. These advances however take their toll on our ecosystem, with high energy demand, greenhouse gas emission and environmental pollution. Mitigating some of these adverse effects, this talk introduces materials and methods for soft systems that biodegrade. Based on highly stretchable biogels and degradable elastomers, our forms of soft electronics and robots are designed for prolonged operation in ambient conditions without fatigue, but fully degrade after use through biological triggers. Electronic skins provide sensory feedback. Enabling autonomous operation, stretchable and biodegradable batteries are demonstrated that power wearable sweat sensors. 3D printing of biodegradable hydrogels enables omnidirectional soft robots with multifaceted optical sensing abilities. Going beyond, we introduce a systematically-determined compatible materials systems for the creation of fully biodegradable, high-performance electrohydraulic soft actuators. These embodiments reliably operate up to high electric fields, show performance comparable to non-biodegradable counterparts, and survive over 100,000 actuation cycles. Pushing the boundaries of sustainable electronics, we demonstrate a concept for growth and processing of fungal mycelium skins as biodegradable substrate material. Mycelium-based batteries with capacities as high as ~3.8 mAh cm−2 allow to power autonomous sensing devices including a Bluetooth module and humidity and proximity sensors, all integrated onto mycelium circuit boards.

Conference Presentation

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Martin Kaltenbrunner "Materials and methods for sustainable soft devices: from biodegradable tough gels to mycelium-based electronic skins", Proc. SPIE PC12741, Advanced Materials, Biomaterials, and Manufacturing Technologies for Security and Defence, PC1274101 (17 October 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2688260

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KEYWORDS

Skin

Sustainability

Batteries

Robots

Sensors

Material fatigue

Optical sensing

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