Liwei Lin (Advisor)

An inexpensive virus detection scheme with high sensitivity and specificity is desirable for broad applications such as the COVID-19 virus. In this article, we introduce the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) principle on the aggregation of antigen-coated...

Flexible sensors with the capability of mapping and examining real-time physiological signals are essential in smart health monitoring systems. Here, high-density and large-scale flexible pressure sensor arrays with the piezoelectric-like dynamic output effects are presented for the mapping and detection of arterial and venous pulses simultaneously. A high equivalent d33 value of 5400 pC N-1 is characterized based on the crisscross groove structure of a single sensor unit with a high dynamic sensitivity of 15.22 nA kPa-...

Strong and robust stimulations to human skins with low driving voltages under high moisture working conditions are desirable for wearable haptic feedback applications. Here, a soft actuator based on the “air bubble” electret structure is developed to work in high-moisture environments and produce haptic sensations to human skin with low driving voltages. Experimentally, the water soaking and drying process has been conducted repeatedly for the first time and the 20th time to test the antimoisture ability of the actuator as it recovers its output force up 90 and 65% of the initial...

Flexible, wearable, and implantable devices are expected to become more abundant due to developments in materials and microfabrication technologies. In our previous work, we have successfully achieved a kind of flexible actuators that can work at low voltage and give haptic feedback. Now we are moving forward to develop energy harvesters with various sets of flexible materials and structures that can 1) harvest energy from outside stable environment; 2) generate electricity in a relatively long time; and 3) give enough energy output to power up small devices.

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