Graphene and Silly Putty

Graphene and Silly Putty
Image retrieved from: https://www.cnet.com/news/the-best-sensors-could-be-made-of-silly-puttyand-graphene/
Silly putty is special material because of its elasticity and liquid properties. It is lightly cross-linked
silicone polymer that can bounce, break and flow.
Trinity College Dublin researchers working with the National Graphene Institute at the Manchester
University have combined graphene with Silly Putty, polysilicon toy, to create very sensitive
slectrochemical sensors.
By the new sensors, they serve several properties such as electrical conductivity, sensitive to
deformation and impact, inexpensive, applicable in healthcare and other sectors. When the mix of
graphene and Silly Putty was placed onto human chest and neck, the G-Putty could monitor breathing,
pulse and blood pressure. This was due to addition of graphene resulting electrical conductance in silly
putty toys. Electrical conductivity of the composite material is very sensitive to deformation being
hundreds of times more sensitive than current sensors resulting from slightest impact or strain.
Graphene mixed putty was also tested successfully for detection of small spiders’ footsteps. Therefore,
it was believed that this kind of material will be applied in many medical devices or others when the
very sensitive impact sensors are needed.
Following video in the link shows how the graphene-silly putty sensor measure pulse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aGixN9Vzhk
For more information: http://www.nature.com/news/graphene-spiked-silly-putty-picks-up-humanpulse-1.21133

http://nanografi.com/blog/graphene-and-silly-putty/

Download Report