Researchers Develop Thin Enough Stretchable Display To Work As Temporary Tattoo

A group of researchers at the Nanjing University’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences recently developed an innovative display that is flexible and thin enough to be worn like a temporary tattoo on skin.

Having to glance down at your watch to see how much time you have spent on running or looking at the screen of your smartphone to see the ID of the caller may be things of the past with this revolutionary interface that combines human and machine aspects together. The interface named alternating-current electroluminescent display allows information to be directly displayed on human skin. It includes an electroluminescent layer which is made using light-emitting microparticles. These microparticles are packed between two silver nanowire electrodes. The ACEL display is brighter thanks to the ceramic nanoparticles in the stretchable polymer. To the point, that wearer can still clearly see the display even whey they are in a well-lit room.

This is not the first flexible ACEL display on the market, but the special thing about this one is that it is safe to wear it on the skin. It emits very bright light even when it is at low voltages. It also generates little waste heat which does not surpass 45 Celsius degree.

Professor Desheng Kong, who is the project's coordinator, said:

To give a demonstration of the revolutionary display’s potential uses, the researchers developed a bright stopwatch which was then attached to a volunteer’s back of the hand. The number could be seen clearly at an extremely low voltage since no detectable electricity was produced.

Professor Desheng Kong believes that the new display could soon be used in smart wearables, human-machine interfaces, and soft robotics.