In this study, we present a thermoplasmonic transparent ink based on a colloidal dispersion of indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles, which can offer several advantages as anti-counterfeiting technology. The custom ink could be directly printed on several substrates, and it is transparent under visible light but is able to generate heat by absorption of NIR radiation. Dynamic temperature mapping of the printed motifs was performed by using a thermal camera while irradiating the samples with an IR lamp. The printed samples presented fine features (in the order of 75 μm) and high thermal resolution (of about 250 μm). The findings are supported by thermal finite-element simulations, which also allow us to explore the effect of different substrate characteristics on the thermal readout. Finally, we built a demonstrator comprising a QR Code invisible to the naked eye, which became visible in thermal images under NIR radiation. The high transparency of the printed ink and the high speed of the thermal reading (figures appear/disappear in less than 1 s) offer an extremely promising strategy toward low-cost, scalable production of photothermally active invisible labels.
Conformable electronics is an emerging and innovative research field investigating functional materials and electronic devices capable of adhering and conforming to non-planar surfaces such as the human skin. Conformable devices...
Rapid self-healing materials are highly demanded to contract plastic pollution and increase the materials service life. In this work, we designed a self-healing thermo-responsive nanocomposite containing homogeneously dispersed indium tin...
Peripheral intravenous catheters are administered for various purposes, such as blood sampling or the infusion of contrast agents and drugs. Extravasation happens when the catheter is unintentionally directed outside of the vein due to movement of the intravascular catheter, enhanced vascular permeability, or occlusion of the upstream vein. In this article, extravasation and its mechanism are discussed. Subsequently, the sensorized devices (e.g., single sensor and multimodal detection) to identify the extravasation phenomena are highlighted. In this review article, we have shed light on both physiological and engineering points of view of extravasation and its detection approaches. This review provides an overview on the most recent and relevant technologies that can help in the early detection of extravasation.
Conformable electronics has emerged in recent years as an innovative research field and the ability of conformable devices to monitor human physiological signals has been extensively explored. Therefore, in this study, the possibility of using conformable electronics as active devices capable of providing stimuli to the human body is investigated. In particular, a new approach is proposed to elicit tactile sensations on human skin using an operating principle based on the generation of localized heat in correspondence with a closed volume of air. This latter consequently expands causing the deformation of a thin membrane. The use of fast prototyping fabrication techniques, i.e., inkjet printing, and commercially available materials, i.e., transfer tattoo paper, allow the device to be produced quickly and easily transferred on the target substrate. Despite the ultrathin thickness (few micrometers), it is possible to observe forces and displacements thanks to localized heating at very low working powers (<300 mW). A pilot test on a voluntary subject demonstrates how it is possible to discriminate the tactile sensation elicited by the active tattoo device. While the working principle on a single taxel is demonstrated, these results show the potential of the new approach for developing wearable tactile displays.
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