Researchers at UCLA and the Universities of Waterloo and British Columbia  have combined silicone rubber with ultra-thin lsyers of graphene to make a material for 3D-printed durable, flexible sensors for wearable devices.

Researchers at UCLA and the Universities of Waterloo and British Columbia  have combined silicone rubber with ultra-thin lsyers of graphene to make a material for 3D-printed durable, flexible sensors for wearable devices.

When the material bends or moves, electrical signals are created by the highly conductive, nanoscale graphene embedded within its engineered honeycomb structure.

“Silicone gives us the flexibility and durability required for biomonitoring applications, and the added, embedded graphene makes it an effective sensor,” said Waterloo’s Ehsan Toyserkani.

Fabricating a silicone rubber structure with such complex internal features is done by 3D printing equipment and processes.

The rubber-graphene material is extremely flexible and durable in addition to highly conductive.

The material and the 3D printing process enable custom-made devices to precisely fit the body shapes of users, while also improving comfort compared to existing wearable devices and reducing manufacturing costs due to simplicity.

The rubber-graphene sensor can be paired with electronic components to make wearable devices that record heart and breathing rates, register the forces exerted when athletes run, allow doctors to remotely monitor patients and numerous other potential applications.