Hot pressing and tape casting key to embedded wearable devices

The team at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) have developed what is described as a flexible but sturdy wearable piezoelectric harvester using a process of hot pressing and tape casting.

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A research team led by Professor Seungbum Hong said that the novelty of this result lies in its simplicity, applicability, durability, and its new characterisation of embedded wearable electronic devices.

Wearable devices are increasingly used in a wide array of applications from small electronics to embedded devices such as sensors, actuators, displays, and energy harvesters.

Despite their many advantages, high costs and complex fabrication processes remained challenges for reaching commercialisation. In addition, their durability was frequently questioned. To address these issues, Professor Hong’s team developed a new fabrication process and analysis technology for testing the mechanical properties of affordable wearable devices.

For this process, the research team used a hot pressing and tape casting procedure to connect the fabric structures of polyester and a polymer film. Hot pressing has usually been used when making batteries and fuel cells due to its high adhesiveness. The process is also quick, taking two to three minutes.