Pukyong National University and KIST Develop Hydrogel for Wearable Sensors Capable of Generating Electricity from Seawater

Professor Kim Yonghyun of National Pukyong University and Dr. Kim Minseok of KIST Lead Research Team
Published in the International Journal 'Chemical Engineering Journal'

A next-generation hydrogel that is highly conductive, flexible, and even capable of generating electricity using seawater has been developed, drawing significant attention.

A research team led by Professor Kim Yonghyun (Department of Display and Semiconductor Engineering, National Pukyong University) and Dr. Kim Minseok from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) created this hydrogel by combining carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with the conductive polymer material PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)).

Professor Yonghyun Kim's research team.

PEDOT:PSS is the key material that enhances the electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of the CMC-PVA-based hydrogel. The material, developed by Professor Kim Yonghyun's faculty startup AH Materials, maintains stable electrical signals even under repeated movement, and the addition of a crosslinking agent further improves its durability and performance.

The newly developed hydrogel features excellent electrical properties, mechanical flexibility, and stretchability, making it suitable for use as a wearable sensor that can be attached to the skin to detect human movement in real-time.

The research team attached sensors made from this hydrogel to various parts of the body to monitor biosignals and analyzed the data with AI, demonstrating high accuracy. With its outstanding properties, the hydrogel can be attached to the skin or integrated into clothing, which is expected to significantly enhance the convenience and accuracy of medical services.

Notably, the research team also confirmed the potential of this hydrogel as an eco-friendly renewable energy material. Experiments utilizing the difference in ion concentration between the moisture inside the hydrogel and seawater successfully generated enough voltage to light an LED.

The results of this study were recently published in the world-renowned international journal in the field of chemical engineering (IF=13.4) under the title "Extremely-low electrical-hysteresis hydrogels for multifunctional wearable sensors and osmotic power generators."

Professor Kim Yonghyun, who led the research, stated, "This hydrogel, which combines both conductivity and flexibility, is expected to contribute to the development of wearable devices that integrate naturally with the human body and to advances in soft electronics."

Dr. Kim Minseok said, "Generating electricity using natural salinity offers a new clue for the advancement of sustainable energy."