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'Wonder' graphene may be used to make printable cameras say Cambridge University engineers
Cambridge News
Chris Elliott
7/29/2014
Excerpt:
Engineers in Cambridge are working on creating tiny, flexible ‘cameras’ – that can be turned out on a printer at home.
The devices, made of the wonder material graphene, could also be integrated into clothing – a further boost for the ‘wearable electronics’ market.
Experts at Cambridge University’s engineering department are at the forefront of research into possible uses for graphene, which was first produced in a lab 10 years ago.
It is incredibly thin - three million ‘sheets’ of it are only 1mm thick - but it is 200 times as strong as steel. It is also a brilliant conductor, retains heat, and absorbs light that can be used as energy. Scientists believe is will enable the invention of a new breed of electronic devices, including mobile phones that are bendable, scratch-resistant and have enormous battery life.
It would have a host of other uses, such as in the car industry, medicine, and manufacturing, and could even be used to make super-tough body armour.
Dr Felice Torrisi, university lecturer in graphene technology, said the aim was to use graphene as a photodetector - effectively a camera that can be printed or stamped on plastic or paper.
“It might eventually be possible to embed these printed, flexible optoelectronic devices into clothes, packaging, wallpapers, posters, touch screens or even buildings. Everybody with a printer at home will be able to print their own “artificial eye” and physically stick it to a flexible mobile phone.”
He is taking part in an 18-month project to design and develop photodetectors, and study their integration with commercial electronics.
He said: “Photodetectors are needed in cameras, automotive applications, sensing and telecommunications, medical devices and security. If these could be made flexible they could be integrated in clothes, rolled up or printed over any irregular surface, substantially increasing the quality of printed and flexible electronics.”
............................................
View the complete article at:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Camb...0729080000.htm
Cambridge News
Chris Elliott
7/29/2014
Excerpt:
Engineers in Cambridge are working on creating tiny, flexible ‘cameras’ – that can be turned out on a printer at home.
The devices, made of the wonder material graphene, could also be integrated into clothing – a further boost for the ‘wearable electronics’ market.
Experts at Cambridge University’s engineering department are at the forefront of research into possible uses for graphene, which was first produced in a lab 10 years ago.
It is incredibly thin - three million ‘sheets’ of it are only 1mm thick - but it is 200 times as strong as steel. It is also a brilliant conductor, retains heat, and absorbs light that can be used as energy. Scientists believe is will enable the invention of a new breed of electronic devices, including mobile phones that are bendable, scratch-resistant and have enormous battery life.
It would have a host of other uses, such as in the car industry, medicine, and manufacturing, and could even be used to make super-tough body armour.
Dr Felice Torrisi, university lecturer in graphene technology, said the aim was to use graphene as a photodetector - effectively a camera that can be printed or stamped on plastic or paper.
“It might eventually be possible to embed these printed, flexible optoelectronic devices into clothes, packaging, wallpapers, posters, touch screens or even buildings. Everybody with a printer at home will be able to print their own “artificial eye” and physically stick it to a flexible mobile phone.”
He is taking part in an 18-month project to design and develop photodetectors, and study their integration with commercial electronics.
He said: “Photodetectors are needed in cameras, automotive applications, sensing and telecommunications, medical devices and security. If these could be made flexible they could be integrated in clothes, rolled up or printed over any irregular surface, substantially increasing the quality of printed and flexible electronics.”
............................................
View the complete article at:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Camb...0729080000.htm