This PDF file contains the front matter associated with SPIE Proceedings Volume 9060, including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction, and Conference Committee listing.

Sensing technologies are currently needed for better maintainability, reliability, safety, and monitoring small variable changes on microscopic and nanoscale systems. Plasmonic sensor research has contributed to chemical and biological sensing needs by monitoring ultrafast temporal and spatial changes in optoelectronic systems. Nonlinear plasmonic waveguides with subwavelength confinement can further enhance the capabilities of plasmonic devices. Results in this paper highlight the derivation of the full-vector Maxwell Equations for the single metal- dielectric slot waveguide and the metal –dielectric –metal waveguide with the dielectric having a Kerr-like nonlinearity. These waveguides, typically have metallic losses that compete with nonlinearity at certain frequencies that can hinder surface plasmon wave propagation. By considering temporal and spatial beam propagation in these waveguides one expects to observe novel effects that could be used for sensing applications such as femtosecond pulse propagation with plasmon self-focusing, self-trapping, and frequency conversion with reduction in metallic losses.

A metallic single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) has been proposed as a highly sensitive temperature sensor with consideration of self-heating induced scattering. This sensor can be implemented to sense temperature spanning from 20º C to 400º C with high temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) ranging from 0.0035/ºC to 0.009/ ºC. Important aspect of this work is consideration of self-heating in SWCNT which was not considered in earlier carbon nanotube based temperature sensors. We have studied a metallic SWCNT over a silicon dioxide substrate and in between two metal contacts. Bias voltage of 0.1V has been applied in between these two contacts. For resistivity calculation, we have utilized one-dimensional semi-classical transport model assuming SWCNT is perfectly conducting. The heat flow equation has been solved assuming steady state flow of heat. We have also assumed that contact and substrate are in thermal equilibrium with the surroundings. Since self-heating significantly affects electro-thermal transport, incorporation of this phenomenon enables to design and model ambient temperature sensor accurately. We have studied CNT sensor with different lengths and chiralities. The results show that resistances of longest (3μm) and thinnest (9, 0) CNTs increase rapidly with temperature. For a 3μm long metallic SWCNT with chirality index (9, 0), TCR has the maximum value (~0.009/ ºC).

A delta-sigma, or sigma-delta, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) comprises both a modulator, which implements oversampling and noise shaping, and a decimator, which implements low-pass filtering and downsampling. Whereas these ADCs are ubiquitous in audio applications, their usage in video applications is emerging. Because of oversampling, it is preferable to integrate delta-sigma ADCs at the pixel level of megapixel video sensors. Moreover, with pixel-level applications, area usage per ADC is much more important than with chip-level applications, where there is only one or a few ADCs per chip. Recently, a small-area decimator was presented that is suitable for pixel-level applications. However, though the pixel-level design is small enough for invisible-band video sensors, it is too large for visible-band ones. As shown here, nanoscale CMOS processes offer a solution to this problem. Given constant specifications, small-area decimators are designed, simulated, and laid out, full custom, for 180, 130, and 65nm standard CMOS processes. Area usage of the whole decimator is analyzed to establish a roadmap for the design and demonstrate that it could be competitive compared to other digital pixel sensors, based on Nyquist-rate ADCs, that are being commercialized.

Clinically glucose monitoring in diabetes management is done by point-measurement. However, an accurate, continuous glucose monitoring, and minimally invasive method is desirable. The research aims at developing fluorescence-mediated glucose detecting biosensors based on near-infrared radiation (NIR) oxygen sensitive dyes. Biosensors based on Glucose oxidase (GOx)-Rudpp loaded alginate microspheres (GRAM) and GOx-Platinum-octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP)-PLAalginate microsphere system (GPAM) were developed using air-driven atomization and characterized using optical microscopy, CLSM, fluorescence spectro-photometry etc. Biosensing studies were performed by exposing standard solutions of glucose. Uniform sized GRAM and GPAM with size 50±10μm were formed using atomization. CLSM imaging of biosensors suggests that Rudpp and PtOEP nanoparticles are uniformly distributed in alginate microspheres. The GRAM and GPAM showed a good regression constant of 0.974 and of 0.9648 over a range of 0-10 mM of glucose with a high sensitivity of 3.349%/mM (625 nm) and 2.38%/mM (645 nm) at 10 mM of glucose for GRAM and GPAM biosensor. GRAM and GPAM biosensors show great potential in development of an accurate and minimally invasive glucose biosensor. NIR dye based assays can aid sensitive, minimally-invasive and interference-free detection of glucose in diabetic patients.

Scientists have predicted that carbon’s immediate neighbors on the periodic chart, boron and nitrogen, may also form perfect nanotubes, since the advent of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in 1991. First proposed then synthesized by researchers at UC Berkeley in the mid 1990’s, the boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) has proven very difficult to make until now. Herein we provide an update on a catalyst-free method for synthesizing highly crystalline, small diameter BNNTs with a high aspect ratio using a high power laser under a high pressure and high temperature environment first discovered jointly by NASA/NIA/JSA. Progress in purification methods, dispersion studies, BNNT mat and composite formation, and modeling and diagnostics will also be presented. The white BNNTs offer extraordinary properties including neutron radiation shielding, piezoelectricity, thermal oxidative stability (> 800°C in air), mechanical strength, and toughness. The characteristics of the novel BNNTs and BNNT polymer composites and their potential applications are discussed.

We present a new low cost microfabrication technology that utilizes a sacrificial conductive paint transfer method to realize thick film copper microstructures that are embedded in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This process has reduced fabrication complexity and cost compared to existing metal-on-PDMS techniques, which enables large scale rapid prototyping of designs using minimal laboratory equipment. This technology differs from others in its use of a conductive copper paint seed layer and a unique transfer process that results in copper microstuctures embedded in PDMS. By embedding microstructures flush with PDMS surface, rather than fabricating the microstructures on the substrate surface, we produce a metallization layer that adheres to PDMS without the need for surface modifications. The fabrication process begins with the deposition of the seed layer onto a flexible substrate via airbrushing. A dry film photoresist layer is laminated on top and patterned using standard techniques. Electroplated copper is grown on the seed layer through the photoresist mask and transferred to PDMS through a unique baking procedure. This baking transfer process releases the electroplated copper from the seed layer, permanently embedding it into the cured PDMS without cracking or otherwise deforming it. We have performed initial characterizations of the copper microstructures in terms of feature size, film thickness, surface roughness, resistivity, and reliability under flexing. Initial results show that we can achieve films 25-75 micrometers in thickness, with reliable feature sizes down to 100 micrometers and a film resistivity of approximately 7.15 micro-Ω-cm. Process variants and future work are discussed, as well as large scale adaptations and rapid prototyping. Finally, we outline the potential uses of this technology in flexible electronics, particularly in high power applications.

Cellulose is one of attractive natural polysaccharides in nature due to its good chemical stability, mechanical strength, biocompatibility, hydrophilic, and biodegradation properties [1-2]. The main disadvantages of biopolymer films like cellulose are their poor mechanical properties. Modification of polymers with inorganic materials is a new way to improve polymer properties such as mechanical strength [3-4]. Presently, the use of graphene/graphene oxide (GO) in materials research has attracted tremendous attention in the past 40 years in various fields including biomedicine, information technology and nanotechnology[5-7]. Graphene, a single sheet of graphite, has an ideal 2D structure with a monolayer of carbon atoms packed into a honeycomb crystal plane. Using both experimental and theoretical scientific research, researchers including Geim, Rao and Stankovich [8-10] have described the attractiveness of graphene in the materials research field. Due to its sp² hybrid carbon network as well as extraordinary mechanical, electronic, and thermal properties, graphene has opened new pathways for developing a wide range of novel functional materials. Perfect graphene does not exist naturally, but bulk and solution processable functionalized graphene materials including graphene oxide (GO) can now be prepared [11-13].The large surface area of GO has a number of functional groups, such as -OH, -COOH, -O- , and C=O, which make GO hydrophilic and readily dispersible in water as well as some organic solvents[14] , thereby providing a convenient access to fabrication of graphene-based materials by solution casting. According to several reports [15-17], GO can be dispersed throughout a selected polymer matrix to make GO-based nanocomposites with excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Since GO is prepared from low-cost graphite, it has an outstanding price advantage over CNTs, which has encouraged studies of GO/synthetic polymer composites [18-20]. In some reported papers, graphene oxide has also been used to reinforce polysaccharide matrices such as carboxymethyl cellulose-starch[21]. Here, we report a simple and environmentally benign preparation of GO/cellulose nanocomposite films by a simple solution mixing-curing method.

Low fat composition in newborns exposes them to an immediate risk of increased mortality and morbidity, inhibited physical and cognitive development and to diabetes and obesity diseases in later life. Information about nutritional and dietary status of newborns can be accessed by measuring the amount of fat composition in the body. The functions of subcutaneous fat involve energy storage, thermo-insulation and a physical buffer. Current technologies for newborn body fat monitoring are: a device based on air displacement plethesmography (PeaPod), dual-energy Xray, and underwater weighting. However they are bulky, expensive, immobile, and require technical expertise. We propose an alternative portable measurement system of in-vitro for subcutaneous fat that uses diffuse near-infrared light reflectance measurement system. We also introduce an in-vitro three-layered tissue model mimicking the subcutaneous fat layer in newborns together with a preliminary study to measure fat using dual-wavelength nearinfrared light. Based on the output data from these measurements, we have proposed a suitable transmission and scattering model. This model estimated the amount of reflected light collected by a photodetector after incident light is scattered in several fat layers. Our portable sensor is low cost and does not require training hence it is suitable for mass use in the developing world. It consists of a single LED and two photodetectors (900 nm and 1000 nm). The photodetectors wavelengths were chosen to be sensitive to fat as it exhibits a peak in the wavelength at 930 nm and to water at which exhibits a peak at 980 nm; the latter is used, to remove hydration bias. Results on a porcine tissue model demonstrate differentiation as low as 2 mm fat which is a relevant screening thickness to indicate low percentage body fat.

Mu waves, also known as mu rhythms, comb or wicket rhythms are synchronized patterns of electrical activity involving large numbers of neurons, in the part of the brain that controls voluntary functions. Controlling, manipulating, or gaining greater awareness of these functions can be done through the process of Biofeedback. Biofeedback is a process that enables an individual to learn how to change voluntary movements for purposes of improving health and performance through the means of instruments such as EEG which rapidly and accurately 'feedback' information to the user. Biofeedback is used for therapeutic purpose for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by focusing on Mu waves for detecting anomalies in brain wave patterns of mirror neurons. Conventional EEG measurement systems use gel based gold cup electrodes, attached to the scalp with adhesive. It is obtrusive and wires sticking out of the electrodes to signal acquisition system make them impractical for use in sensitive subjects like infants and children with ASD. To remedy this, sensors can be incorporated with skull cap and baseball cap that are commonly used for infants and children. Feasibility of Textile based Sensor system has been investigated here. Textile based multi-electrode EEG, EOG and EMG monitoring system with embedded electronics for data acquisition and wireless transmission has been seamlessly integrated into fabric of these items for continuous detection of Mu waves. Textile electrodes were placed on positions C3, CZ, C4 according to 10-20 international system and their capability to detect Mu waves was tested. The system is ergonomic and can potentially be used for early diagnosis in infants and planning therapy for ASD patients.

Detection of sleepiness and drowsiness in human beings has been a daunting task for both engineering and medical technologies. Accuracy, precision and promptness of detection have always been an issue that has to be dealt by technologists. Commonly, the rudimentary bio potential signals – ECG, EOG, EEG and EMG are used to classify and discriminate sleep from being awake. However, the potential drawbacks may be high false detections, low precision, obtrusiveness, aftermath analysis, etc. To overcome the disadvantages, this paper proposes the design of a wireless and a real time monitoring system to track sleep and detect fatigue. This concept involves the use of EOG and EEG to measure the blink rate and asses the person’s condition. In this user friendly and intuitive approach, EOG and EEG signals are obtained by the dry gold wire nano-sensors fabricated on the inner side of a flexible headband. The acquired signals are then electrically transmitted to the data processing and transmission unit, which transmits the processed data to the receiver/monitoring module through WCDMA/GSM communication. This module is equipped with a software program to process, feature extract, analyze, display and store the information. Thereby, immediate detection of a person falling asleep is made feasible and, tracking the sleep cycle continuously provides an insight about the experienced fatigue level. The novel approach of using a wireless, real time, dry sensor on a flexible substrate reduces the obtrusiveness, and techniques adopted in the electronics and software facilitates and substantial increase in efficiency, accuracy and precision.

As power density keeps increasing tremendously in emerging VLSI nanotechnology, the sensing and monitoring of die temperature is vital, implying the need for high performance materials compatible with current CMOS technology. Graphene is a promising material for sensor applications due to its planar geometry and high electrical and thermal conductivity. In this work, we have explored the feasibility of a thin oxide graphene field effect transistor (G-FET) as a temperature sensor. The resistivity of the device has been calculated using the semi-classical transport equations considering the scattering mechanisms by substrate polar phonons and intrinsic phonons. The generated self-heating in graphene-silicon dioxide interface, silicon dioxide layer and back-gated silicon wafer has been also considered to extract the saturation velocity of graphene at high electric field and high temperature. We have found that the resistivity of GFET is highly sensitive to high ambient temperature variation. The calculated temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of G-FET at high temperatures (~600oC) is three times higher than room temperature exhibiting the highly sensitive resistance to high temperature variation. The resistance shows third order dependence on the ambient temperature in the range of 0 to 600oC and the TCR at high temperatures has been demonstrated a high dependence on the drain-source voltage ranging from 􀍳 􀵈 􀍳􀍲􀬿􀬷􀈀 􀀆 􀀃􀭭 to 􀍵􀇤􀍳􀍷 􀵈 􀍳􀍲􀬿􀬷􀈀 􀀆􀀃 􀭭 for the voltage spanning from 5V to 1V while that of low temperature is relatively unalterable.

CMOS active pixel sensor technology, which is widely used these days for digital imaging, is based on analog pixels. Transition to digital pixel sensors can boost signal-to-noise ratios and enhance image quality, but can increase pixel area to dimensions that are impractical for the high-volume market of consumer electronic devices. There are two main approaches to digital pixel design. The first uses digitization methods that largely rely on photodetector properties and so are unique to imaging. The second is based on adaptation of a classical analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for in-pixel data conversion. Imaging systems for medical, industrial, and security applications are emerging lower-volume markets that can benefit from these in-pixel ADCs. With these applications, larger pixels are typically acceptable, and imaging may be done in invisible spectral bands.

Phonon interaction with electrons or phonons or with structural defects result in a phonon mode conversion. The mode conversion is governed by the frequency wave-vector dispersion relation. The control over phonon mode or the screening of phonon in graphene is studied using the propagation of amplitude modulated phonon wave-packet. Control over phonon properties like frequency and velocity opens up several wave guiding, energy transport and thermo-electric applications of graphene. One way to achieve this control is with the introduction of nano-structured scattering in the phonon path. Atomistic model of thermal energy transport is developed which is applicable to devices consisting of source, channel and drain parts. Longitudinal acoustic phononmode is excited fromone end of the device. Molecular dynamics based time integration is adopted for the propagation of excited phonon to the other end of the device. The amount of energy transfer is estimated from the relative change of kinetic energy. Increase in the phonon frequency decreases the kinetic energy transmission linearly in the frequency band of interest. Further reduction in transmission is observed with the tuning of channel height of the device by increasing the boundary scattering. Phonon mode selective transmission control have potential application in thermal insulation or thermo-electric application or photo-thermal amplification.

This study deals with two biomedical subjects: corrosion rates of polyelectrolyte-coated magnesium (Mg) alloys, mainly used for biomedical purposes, and antibacterial properties of these alloys. Thin sheets of Mg alloys were coated with cationic polyelectrolyte chitosan (CHI) and anionic polyelectrolyte carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) using a layer-by-layer coating method and then embedded with antibacterial agents under vacuum. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was employed to analyze these samples in order to detect their corrosion properties at different conditions. In the electrochemical analysis section, a corrosion rate of 72 mille inches per year was found in a salt solution for the sample coated with a 12 phosphonic acid self-assembled monolayer and 9 CHI/CMC multilayers. In the antibacterial tests, gentamicin was used to investigate the effects of the drug embedded with the coated surfaces against the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. Antibacterial studies were tested using the disk diffusion method. Based on the standard diameter of the zone of inhibition chart, the antibacterial diffusion from the surface strongly inhibited bacterial growth in the regions. The largest recorded diameter of the zone of inhibition was 50 mm for the pre-UV treated and gentamicin-loaded sample, which is more than three times the standard diameter.

The present day bio-technical field concentrates on developing various types of innovative ambulatory and wearable devices to monitor several bio-physical, physio-pathological, bio-electrical and bio-potential factors to assess a human body’s health condition without intruding quotidian activities. One of the most important aspects of this evolving technology is monitoring heart beat rate and electrocardiogram (ECG) from which many other subsidiary results can be derived. Conventionally, the devices and systems consumes a lot of power since the acquired signals are always processed on the receiver end. Because of this back end processing, the unprocessed raw data is transmitted resulting in usage of more power, memory and processing time. This paper proposes an innovative technique where the acquired signals are processed by a microcontroller in the front end of the module and just the processed signal is then transmitted wirelessly to the display unit. Therefore, power consumption is considerably reduced and clearer data analysis is performed within the module. This also avoids the need for the user to be educated about usage of the device and signal/system analysis, since only the number of heart beats will displayed at the user end. Additionally, the proposed concept also eradicates the other disadvantages like obtrusiveness, high power consumption and size. To demonstrate the above said factors, a commercial controller board was used to extend the monitoring method by using the saved ECG data from a computer.

A light-weight, soft, robust and low cost sensory system integrated into the inner soles of footwear is being developed that channels information to a mobile device, allowing to assess the ergonomics of the technique applied and to achieve improved performance in several fields of sport, to develop orthopedic footwear or monitor elevated plantar pressures for several fields of medicine, including early detection of diabetic foot ulceration. The advantages and disadvantages of several sensory material types were considered in the present work, focusing on signal reproducibility for periodic pressure measurements, response frequency and long-term stability, especially after extended load periods. Promising results were obtained for both capacitive and resistive sensory materials, utilizing virtually the same electronics platform for both types.

Eyeball plays a quite important role in acquiring the vision. Vitreous body occupies the largest part of the eyeball and consists of biological, elastic, transparent, gel materials. In the present medical examination, the non-destructive examination method of the vitreous body has not been well established. Here, we focus on an application of dynamic light scattering to this topic. We tried to apply our lab-made apparatus, scanning microscopic light scattering (SMILS), which was specially designed for observing the nanometer-scale network structure in gel materials. In order to examine the vitreous body using SMILS method, a commercial apparatus, nano Partica (Horiba Co. Ltd.) was also customized. We analyzed vitreous body using both the SMILS and the customized nano Partica. We successfully examined the vitreous bodies of healthy pigs in non-destructive way.

As microfluidic systems evolve from “chip-in-the-lab” to true portable lab-on-a-chip (LoC) or lab-in-a-package (LiP) microinstrumentation, there is a need for increasingly miniaturized sensors, actuators, and integration/interconnect technologies with high levels of functionality and self-direction. Furthermore, as microfluidic instruments are increasingly realized in polymer-based rather than glass- or silicon- based platforms, there is a need to realize these highly functional components in materials that are polymer-compatible. Polymers that are altered to possess basic functionality, and even higher-functioning “smart” polymer materials, may help to realize high-functioning and selfdirecting portable microinstrumentation. Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have been recognized for over a decade as beneficial to the development of smart microfluidics systems and instrumentation. In addition, functional materials such as conductive and magnetic composite polymers are being increasingly employed to push microfluidics systems to greater degrees of functionality, portability, and/or flexibility for wearable/implantable systems. Functional and smart polymer materials can be employed to realize electrodes, electronic routing, heaters, mixers, valves, pumps, sensors, and interconnect structures in polymer-based microfluidic systems. Stimuli for such materials can be located on-chip or in a small package, thus greatly increasing the degree of portability and the potential for mechanical flexibility of such systems. This paper will examine the application of functional polymer materials to the development of high-functioning microfluidics instruments with a goal towards self-direction.

We present the design, fabrication, and preliminary testing of a flexible array of sensor switches intended for applications in wearable electronics and sensor systems. The touch pad sensor arrays feature flexible printed circuit board (flexible PCB) substrates and/or flexible conductive composite polymer (CCP) structures, resulting in highly flexible switch arrays. Each switch consists of 4 elements: fascia, target, spacer and a sensor coil. The user presses the fascia, bringing the target in contact with the sensor coil. Any change in the position of the target changes the coil inductance due to the generation of eddy currents, which are detected by an electronic circuit and custom software. Contact between the target and coil also measurably changes the inductance of the coils. Different sizes and geometries (square, circular, hexagonal and octagonal) of coils in both flexible PCB metal (copper) and CCP were investigated to determine which couple best with the CCP that forms the target for the inductive coils. We describe techniques for patterning two-layer inductive coils on flexible PCBs. Using this process, we demonstrate coil trace thicknesses of 200 micrometers. We also present a new low cost microfabrication technique to create inductive flexible coils using embedded CCP in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as an alternative to flexible PCB metal coils. We further describe an electronic circuit that accurately measures inductances as low as 500 nH that is used to detect the change in the inductance of a sensor’s coil when the user presses the target element of the sensor. The inductance for a sensor composed of CCP square coils and CCP target was measured to be approximately 35 μH before being pressed. When pressed, the inductance dropped to 3.8 μH, a change which was easily detected.

Urea is an important biomarker for identification of kidney diseases. Early urea detection using a specific and sensitive technique can significantly reduce the mortality of patients. The research aims at developing fluorescence-based FITCmediated pH and urea measurement. A system containing FITC-dextran in alginate microspheres was developed using air-driven atomization. pH/Urea biosensor was characterized using optical microscopy, SEM, and CLSM. Urea biosensing studies were performed by exposing different standard solutions of pH and urea standard solutions using fluorescence spectroscopy (λex=488 nm and λem=520 nm). FITC-dextran was entrapped using an encapsulation unit and alginate microspheres were formed. The microspheres were found to be uniform and spherical in nature with sizes (50±10μ). FITC-dextran was found to be uniformly distributed in the alginate microspheres as per the CLSM scans. Urea biosensing studies indicate that a linear correlation was observed with increasing urea concentrations. The said microspheres can be used to detect changes in pH from 4-8 units owing to its linear response in this range. FITC dextran loaded alginate microspheres showed an improved range of detection upto 7 mM in comparison to 1.5 mM when in solution phase in a study with urea concentrations from 0-50 mM. The pH and urea detection was accurate to an extent of interday variation of 5%. FITC-dextran loaded alginate microspheres show a great potential for usage as a pH and urea biosensor for early detection of kidney diseases.

ZnO is well known semiconductor material with high band gap as well as piezoelectricity. Because of its high performance of electromechanical behavior, ZnO based piezoelectric devices have taken great attention from many research groups. However, ZnO should be grown on a flexible substrate so as to allow its flexibility. Since cellulose is renewable, flexible and biocompatible, ZnO is grown on cellulose by hydrothermal process, then a novel flexible piezoelectric material. We report the fabrication and strain sensor behavior of cellulose ZnO hybrid nanocomposite(CEZOHN) In this research, simple piezoelectric strain sensor based on CEZOHN is made by directly stretching it and by boding it on a cantilever. Its performance is measured in terms of longitudinal and bending strain. This strain sensor shows a good linearity.

Paper based composite with semiconductor nanomaterial is a fascinating orgnic-inorganic hybrid composite that has improved properties of flexibility, biocompatibility and functionality. Cellulose Electro-Active Paper (EAPap) is a kind of paper electric device. To improve functionality of EAPap, ZnO is used as hybrid inorganic composition. Cellulose- ZnO hybrid nanocomposite (CEZOHN) is fabricated by seeding and growing ZnO on cellulose film with a simple chemical reaction. CEZOHN reveals not only electrical, eletromechanical behavior but also photoelectrical behavior. This paper reports specially photo-response and sensitivity of CEZOHN under several light source: UV light, sun and fluorescent light. The fabrication process is briefly introduced, and induced voltage, induced current under light source are investigated. Also, the ZnO effect of CEZOHN and its mechanism is studied and its possibility of application as photosensor, photodiode, photovoltaic device will be discussed.

In this paper, a novel self-heating composite material utilizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) paper is designed and fabricated successfully. The carbon nanotube paper was prepared by multiple steps of CNTs dispersion and suspension filtration as shown in Fig1. a and characterized by scanning electron microscopy thermo gravimetric analysis nitrogen adsorption isotherms at 77K and so on. The surface of the as-prepared CNTs paper is smooth and very flexible. The conductivity of the CNTs paper could be regulated from 30 S/cm to 200 S/cm. The fabricating process of the self-heating is shown in Fig.1 b and the electric heating performance under different ambient temperature, power changing from 4.3W to 44.8W and wind speed ranging from 8m/s to 14m/s was discussed. In addition, the feasibility of the application in the deicing of the composite was simulated by the software of Fluent. The thermal behavior was discussed combining the experimental and simulated values, especially the temperature field distribution under different wind speed. The maximum heating rate can reach 2℃/s under different condition. The equilibrium temperature and energy consumption of the composite at different power compared with the commercial kanthal electric heating film were also investigated. The energy consumption of the self-heating material is less than the kanthal electric heating film to reach the same equilibrium temperature which may be caused by the difference of heat capacity. The experimental and simulated results indicate the electric heating performance of CNTs paper-based composite is superior to the commercial kanthal electric heating film and has feasibility in the field of deicing.

We have developed a conductive nanocomposite polymer that possesses both good conductivity and flexibility, and screen printed it onto fabric to realize wearable flexible electrodes and electronic routing. The conductive polymer consists of dispersed silver nanoparticles (90~210nm) in a screen printable plastisol polymer. The conductive polymer is conductive for weight-percentages above approximately 61 wt-% of Ag nanoparticles, and has a resistivity of 2.1210^-6 ohm·m at 70 wt-% of Ag nanoparticles. To test the screen printed conductive polymer’s flexibility and its effect on conductivity, we measured the resistivity of the Ag-doped composite polymer at different bending angles (-90˚ ~ 90˚) with a 10° step angle at different wt-% of silver particles, and compared the results. We also tested washability of the screen printed conductive polymer as applied to fabric for long-term use in wearable sensors systems. We also used the screen printed Ag composite polymer to realize an example wearable system. Flexible wearable dry electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes were developed and ECG signal was measured via the electrodes. The sensing ECG electrodes (3mm diameter circle) were chloridized to form Ag/AgCl electrodes. We measured an ECG signal using a simple right-leg driven ECG circuit and observed normal ECG signals even without application of electrolyte gel.

Printing has become an emerging manufacturing technology for mechanics, electronics, and consumer products. Additionally, both nanotubes and nanowires have recently been used as materials for sensors and electrodes due to their unique electrical and mechanical properties. Printed electrodes and conductive traces particularly offer versatility of fabricating low-cost, disposable, and flexible electrical devices and microsystems. While various printing methods such as screen printing have been conventional methods for printing conductive traces and electrodes, inkjet printing has recently attracted great attention due to its unique advantages including no template requirement, rapid printing at low cost, on-demand printing capability, and precise control of the printed material. Computer generated conductive traces or electrode patterns can simply be printed on a thin film substrate with proper conductive ink consisting of nanotubes or nanowires. However, in order to develop nanotube or nanowire ink, there are a few challenges that need to be addressed. The most difficult obstacle to overcome is that of nanotube/nanowire dispersion within a solution. Other challenges include adjusting surface tension and controlling viscosity of the ink as well as treating the surface of the printing substrate. In an attempt to pave the way for nanomaterial inkjet printing, we present a method for preparing carbon nanotube ink as well as its printing technique. A fully printed electrochemical sensor using inkjet-printed carbon nanotube electrodes is also demonstrated as an example of the possibilities for this technology.

Recently we successfully developed novel transparent shape memory gels. The SMG memorize their original shapes during the gelation process. In the room temperature, the SMG are elastic and show plasticity (yielding) under deformation. However when heated above about 50˚C, the SMG induce hard-to-soft transition and go back to their original shapes automatically. We focus on new soft and wet systems made of the SMG by 3-D printing technology.

Reconfigurable lens is biomimetic as it mimics human eye and is a transparent actuating material that can change its curvature in the presence of external stimuli. Focus tunable, adaptive lenses provide several advantages over traditional lens assemblies in terms of compactness, cost, efficiency and flexibility. To further improve the simplicity and compact nature of adaptive lenses, we present lens system which makes use of an inline, transparent electro active polymer actuator. This paper reports the preliminary development we have achieved in reconfigurable lens systems made with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) using the principle of Kerr effect. Preparation of the hydrophobic CNC solution as well as the optical properties of the lens has been discussed. This soft gel actuator was analyzed by measuring the electric birefringence in the pulse field of constant and sinusoidal voltage based on the use of modulation of elliptic light polarization.

This paper reports an array type film haptic actuator based on cellulose acetate. Suggested actuator can vibrate with faster response time and various frequencies to give a range of haptic feedbacks to users which can be used in touch screen devices. Fabrication process, performance evaluation and electrostatic behavior of haptic actuator are reported for tactile sensation. Cellulose acetate film is suitable for haptic actuator for its transparency, flexibility and high dielectric constant. An element of haptic actuator is made by using cellulose acetate film with patterned adhesive tape spacer, then haptic actuator elements arrayed to 3 x 3 to embed in haptic devices. Experiment to measure vibration acceleration is carried out on wide range of actuation frequency and voltage for single actuator to evaluate 3x3 array actuator.

An image acquisition utilizing a 2D piezoelectric actuated optical scanner is presented. Fabrication and testing of a micromachined optically transmissive cantilever waveguide that operates in the resonant mode is presented with its application as a micro-optical scanner. The optical waveguide has a smaller cross-sectional area (2 µm × 5 µm) than our previous study (62.5 to 420 mm). The scanner is consisted of a single mode optical fiber (SMF28e) mounted on a X-Y coupled piezoelectric bimorphs operating at the actuators’ resonant frequencies of 50 Hz and 128 Hz. The scanner achieves a 3.14 mm vertical and 0.61 mm horizontal tip displacements with a ±10V input.

In this study we assess the feasibility of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to track the temperature changes during ablation in an ex-vivo ovine liver and in-vivo porcine model. 208 tetrapolar electrical impedance measurements were obtained at 30 frame/s from a 16 electrode EIT system. In the porcine model ventilation artefact was removed by low pass filtering and successful ablation related impedance change image sequences were reconstructed from four of nine liver ablations. This study indicates feasibility of the technique but was limited in the porcine model due to electrode difficulties and the difficulty in positioning the microwave applicator under ultrasound. EIT is more convenient and lower cost than other temperature monitoring methods such as MRI but spatial resolution is constrained by the relatively low number of independent measurements and ill posed reconstruction problem. Future improvements include the use of an internal electrode that could be in practice located on the microwave applicator to provide the reconstruction algorithm with improved prior information and local information of conductivity changes due to ablation.

In this study, the effect of Parylene-C coated as a passivation layer on various rectennas is investigated in terms of their wireless power transfer performance. A passivation has been used for protection of rectenna circuits and their packaging in order for protection of the circuit elements and electrical insulation. Especially, wireless power receiving rectennas attached on sensors or on moving vehicles such as airship needs proper protection while they are exposed to harsh environment. In this research, a layer of Parylene-C thin film is used for passivation on rectennas and electromagnetic coupling by the coating is assessed by the measurement of receiving power levels. In this research, an electrochemical analysis method will also be introduced to measure the degree of water protection by a Parylene-C layer.

A rectenna system delivers, collects, and converts RF energy into direct current to power the electronic devices or recharge batteries. It consists of an antenna for receiving RF power, an input filter for processing energy and impedance matching, a rectifier, an output filter, and a load resistor. However, the conventional rectenna systems have drawback in terms of power generation, as the single resonant frequency of an antenna can generate only low power compared to multiple resonant frequencies. A multi band rectenna system is an optimal solution to generate more power. This paper proposes the design of a novel rectenna system, which involves developing a multi band rectenna with a fractal structured antenna to facilitate an increase in energy harvesting from various sources like Wi-Fi, TV signals, mobile networks and other ambient sources, eliminating the limitation of a single band technique. The usage of fractal antennas effects certain prominent advantages in terms of size and multiple resonances. Even though, a fractal antenna incorporates multiple resonances, controlling the resonant frequencies is an important aspect to generate power from the various desired RF sources. Hence, this paper also describes the design parameters of the fractal antenna and the methods to control the multi band frequency.

The 3D printing technology, causing much attention from the beginning of 2013, will be possibly an alternative method to fabricate the biological soft tissues. Recently our group of Yamagata University has developed the world-first 3D Gel Printer to fabricate the complicated gel-materials with high-strength and biocompatibility. However, there are no 3D scanners that collect the data from the internal structure of complicated gel objects such as eye lens. It means that a new system for scanning the internal structure is needed now. In this study, firstly, we have tried to investigate the gel network of synthetic and biological gel with scanning microscopic light scattering (SMILS). We calculated the Young’s modulus of synthetic gels with the SMILS and with the tensile test, and precisely compared the results between them. The temperature dependences of the inside structure and the transparency are observed in the pig crystalline lens. The quantitative analysis indicates the importance of the internal structure of real object. Secondary, we show the new system named Gel-scanner that can provide the 2-dimentional data of the internal structure. From examining our findings, the scanning of internal structure will enable us to expect physical properties of the real object. We convince that the gelscanner will play major role in the various fields.

Metamaterial with negative refractive index is the key phenomenon behind the concept of a cloaking device to hide an object from light in visible spectrum. Metamaterials made of two and three dimensional lattices of periodically placed electromagnetic resonant cells can achieve absorption and propagation of incident electromagnetic radiation as confined electromagnetic fields confined to a waveguide as surface plasmon polaritons, which can be used for shielding an object from in-tune electromagnetic radiation. The periodicity and dimensions of resonant cavity determine the frequency, which are very small as compared to the wavelength of incident light. Till now the phenomena have been demonstrated only for lights in near infrared spectrum. Recent advancements in fabrication techniques have made it possible to fabricate array of three dimensional nanostructures with cross-sections as small as 25 nm that are required for negative refractive index for wavelengths in visible light spectrum of 400-700 nm and for wider view angle. Two types of metamaterial designs, three dimensional concentric split ring and fishnet, are considered. Three dimensional structures consisted of metal-dielectric-metal stacks. The metal is silver and dielectric is yttrium oxide, other than conventional materials such as FR4 and Duroid. High κ dielectric and high refractive index as well as large crystal symmetry of Yttrium oxide has been investigated as encapsulating medium. Dependence of refractive index on wavelength and bandwidth of negative refractive index region are analyzed for application towards cloaking from light in visible spectrum.

Studying of lateral migration of particles has a long history in fluid mechanics. In the Stokes approximation, noncharged rigid spherical particle in dilute solution does not migrate to a direction perpendicular to external field. For example, the spherical particle is placed in the vicinity of the wall. The particle doesn’t move when a flow field, which is parallel to the wall, is applied. However, the lateral migrations are observed in dispersions of non-spherical and deformable particles. Blood is a multi-phase dispersion and is composed of red blood cells, leukocytes, platelets and so on dispersed in plasma. The leukocytes and the platelets move to the vicinity of the wall when the blood flows in tube. It is called ‘margination’. In this study, the migrations of binary droplet dispersion with different radii and surface tension coefficient are examined by computer simulations. The interaction among droplets causes a segregation of some kind of particles. The binary droplets dispersion system under Couette flow is simulated and the mean positions of the droplets are evaluated. The margination of small droplets is observed when the surface tension coefficient of the large droplets is small. On the other hand, the margination of large droplets is not observed when the large droplet is stiff.

In this present study experimental and finite element analysis of cellulose based electro-active paper energy harvester is presented. Electro-active paper coated with metal electrode is a smart form of cellulose and exhibit piezoelectric effect. Specimens were prepared by depositing electrodes on both sides of the cellulose film. A 50 mm x 50 mm cellulose film coated with aluminum electrodes was bonded on 100 mm x 50 mm x 1 mm aluminum host structure. The voltage output to input acceleration frequency response across a load resistor of 1 MΩ is recorded by conventional energy harvesting experimental setup at the fundamental vibration mode of the EAPap cantilever beam. A coupled piezoelectric-circuit finite element model is developed in which load resistor is directly connected to energy scavenging device. Voltage output FRF is measured for the cases, without proof mass, and by adding a 2 grams proof mass near the tip of the cantilever. The experimental voltage FRF value is 7.6 V/g at 75.1 Hz and is improved to 13.8 V/g at 62.2 Hz when a stainless steel proof mass of 2 grams is added. The presented CPC-FEM model results agree reasonably well with the experimental results. Despite the fact that the electro-mechanical coupling coefficient of electro-active paper is lower than other available piezoelectric materials, it is biocompatible, cheap and naturally occurring polymeric material. It is also very flexible and posses similar piezoelectric characteristics such a PVDF which inspire to use EAPap in energy harvesting applications.

We investigate surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor for chemical and biological detector as measuring the frequency shift based on adsorption quantities of chemical analyte on SAW propagation path. Important features that define the performance of these sensors are selectivity, sensitivity, stability, response time and dynamic range. In this paper, two inter-digital transducers (IDT) for working frequency of 50MHz, 100 MHz were designed and fabricated using conventional lift-off technique. The shift in SAW velocity due to surface loading leads to a shift in phase, which in turn generates a shift in frequency of the oscillator is confirmed. By different concentration of chemical vapor, the sensitivity of SAW devices will be presented.

Nanotechnology, even after 55 years since its foundation (1959 Richard Feynman’s speech - ‘There is lot of space in the bottom’), is still in its infancy. However, of late, there has been a large increase in the research being done in this field in many prominent Universities and Research institutions across the globe. Nanorobotics is the combination of Nanotechnology and the science of Robotics, to create robots that are only a few nanometres (10^-9 metres) in size. Nanobots are yet to be made. But with the current pace of ongoing researches, scientists predict that nanobots will be made a reality by next ten years. The main proposed function of nanobots is to use them in the medical field to interact with cells or intra-cellular substances and prevent or reverse structural and genetical problems and diseases.

One of the major challenges faced while creating a nanobot to travel through human body is to power it. Nanobots would require a very small yet highly potential source of energy. There are many hypothesised energy sources for nanobots which are either already available within the human body naturally or which are to be supplied externally. But, all of these energy sources pose a few challenges which need to be addressed if they are to be used to power nanobots. These challenges can be overcome using a number of strategies that can be used to make an economically, ecologically and medically viable energy source.