Florida International University

Chunlei Wang

Nezih Pala

Iman Khakpour

Amin Rabiei Baboukani

Omena Okpowe

Anis Allagui

Shahrzad Forouzanfar

Borzooye Jafarizadeh

Azmal Chowdhury

Vadym Drozd

Wei Chen

Majid Beidaghi

The subject invention is concerned with systems and methods advantageously applying finite element analysis to establish design rules for a highly sensitive piezo-resistive pressure sensor with an output that is high enough to be detectable by simple and inexpensive circuits and therefore ensure wearability. Four frequently reported micro-feature shapes in micro-patterned piezo-resistive sensors are provided, where the micro-dome and micro-pyramid yield the highest sensitivity. Investigations of different conductivity values of micro-patterned elastomers show that coating the elastomer with a conductive material (e.g., a metallic coating) leads to higher current response when compared to composited conductive elastomers. Advantageous geometric parameters and spatial configurations of micro-pyramid design of piezo-resistive sensors are provided. Results show that an enhanced sensitivity and higher current output can be achieved by a lower spatial density configuration of three micro-features per millimeter length, a smaller feature size of around 100 μm, and a 60-50 degrees pyramid angle.

Multi-modal pressure sensor

Biosensors capable of detecting certain biomarkers (e.g., platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)), as well as methods of fabricating the same and methods of using the same, are provided. The biosensors can be disposable and/or label-free. Electrochemical bipolar exfoliation can be used to exfoliate, reduce, and deposit (in a single step) graphene nanosheets on a desired substrate (e.g., an electrode). Affinity aptamers can be immobilized on the graphene nanosheets disposed on the substrate.

Biosensors for detecting biomarkers and methods of fabricating and using the same

Biosensors for detecting biomarkers and methods of fabricating and using the same preliminary class

Sensors, actuators, energy sources, and data processing for enabling artificial intelligent (AI) integrated automated features of intelligent electronic shoes are provided. The intelligent footwear can gather information from the shoe and send the data to a user interface for monitoring the physical activities of the wearer. A smart thermal actuation system can control the internal temperature of the shoe to offer a comfortable experience to the user. Intelligent footwear can also have systems for multipurpose sensing and actuation modules, which can use energy harvested by the user locomotion or by an energy source accompanied by artificial intelligence to gather and process information for ensuring an enhanced user experience.

Intelligent automated footwear

Gradient refractive index lenses (GRI-Ls) and methods of fabricating the same are provided. GRI-Ls can be fabricated by stereolithography (SLA) and/or photo-assisted, thermal-assisted, and/or other laser-based curing from at least two precursors with a preset refractive index gradation along the planar axis. These lenses are self-focusing lenses and may be convergent or divergent for decreasing and increasing refractive indices from the center, respectively. Rather than a gradation in lens thickness from the center, the GRI-Ls can have a gradation of composition from the center.

Gradient refractive index lenses and methods of fabricating the same

Microsupercapacitors (MSCs), as well as methods of fabricating the same and methods of using the same, are provided. An MSC can include interdigitated microelectrodes having reduced graphene oxide (rGO) (e.g., vertically aligned nanosheets thereof) disposed on upper surfaces of the microelectrodes. The MSC can be fabricated by preparing a micro-current collector (MCC) comprising the interdigitated microelectrodes using photolithography and then performing a bipolar electrochemistry process on the MCC to deposit rGO on the upper surfaces of the interdigitated microelectrodes (e.g., in a single-step in situ exfoliation, reduction, and deposition).

Microsupercapacitors and methods of fabricating the same

Bipolar electrochemistry (BPE) concepts are used to provide a single-step and controllable process for simultaneously exfoliating a graphite source and depositing both graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide layers on conductive substrates. A bipolar electrochemical cell can be used for a three-in-one deposition and can include two wired pieces of graphite to monitor the amount of current that passes through the bipolar electrode.

Bipolar exfoliation and in-situ deposition of high-quality reduced graphene

Doped glass scintillators and methods of fabricating the same are provided. Doped glass scintillators can be fabricated by a stereolithography process, and doping can be carried out before the green body composite formation so that homogeneity of the dopant is improved. The structures retain an amorphous structure through the fabrication process, and the vacuum sintering process assists with keeping the dopants in their luminescence-producing oxidation state.

Glass scintillators and methods of manufacturing the same

Single-step, inexpensive, scalable, and eco-friendly methods and systems for exfoliation and deposition of 2D reduced phosphorene nanosheets are provided, as well as deposited phosphorene nanosheets with high specific capacitance. The exfoliation and deposition can be in situ and can include exfoliation from bulk black phosphorus (BP) into a solvent and deposition onto a negative feeding electrode. The positive feeding electrode can be a noble metal, such as a platinum wire.

Bipolar exfoliation and deposition of phosphorene onto negative feeding electrode

A single-step, in situ bipolar exfoliation system, and methods for exfoliations of multi-layer bulk black phosphorous into single-layer (two-dimensional), few-layer, or even nano-platelets phosphorene are provided. The bipolar exfoliation system can include: a first driving electrode; a second driving electrode electrically connected to the first driving electrode through an external power supply; at least one bipolar electrode comprising multi-layer bulk black phosphorous; and a solvent in physical contact with the first driving electrode, the second driving electrode, and the at least one bipolar electrode. The system can be configured such that the electric conditions between the first and second driving electrodes can be used to turn one end of the at least one bipolar electrode into an anodic pole and the other end of the at least one bipolar electrode into a cathodic pole such that the multi-layer black phosphorous is exfoliated into the single-layer, few-layer, or nano-platelets phosphorene.

Bipolar exfoliation of black phosphorous into phosphorene

Disclosed herein are methods of manufacturing micro-super capacitors from C-MEMS structures.

Growing community of inventors

Miami, FL, United States of America

Chunlei Wang