Advanced Materials & Sensors

Liquid3D proposes bioinspired electronics and machines that are soft, resilient, self-healing, shape-morphing, and fully recyclable. Functional sensing/acting/processing/energy cells will be 3D printed using a series of game changer Liquid Metal based composites. As a result, we will print futuristic soft electronics that sense and interact with humans or the environment. This provides an excellent design freedom to scientists for manufacturing complex “living” electronics, while guaranteeing that any possible product coming from these inventions will be Resilient, Repairable, and Recyclable. I expect that over 80% of microchips, and metals in the printed circuits, can be recovered. Liquid3D redefines the electronics, by rethinking the materials, fabrications, and design architectures. These objectives are feasible, thanks to the recent breakthroughs that I made to the field: First; discovery of the biphasic (liquid-solid) composite based on Gallium-Indium Liquid Metal (LM), that allowed the first ever method for room temperature printing of stretchable circuits; and second, a method for inclusion of microelectronics into ultra-stretchable circuits through self-soldering, self-healing, and self-encapsulating of LM-Polymer composites. With Liquid3D I will develop fundamental understanding, and mathematical modelling of biphasic systems, and develops novel room temperature printable composites with sensing/acting/energy storage properties, and methods for recycling them. I will investigate novel forms of implementing truly 3D electronics, with distributed functional cells. Liquid3D intends to fundamentally rethink, the concept of electronics, as we know today. From rigid and brittle to soft, resilient and repairable; From polluting to recyclable; from battery dependent to self-powered; from 2D to truly 3D; It proposes a radically new way of making “greener” electronics. With Liquid3D I aim to establish the world leading centre on recyclable, and green electronics.

Brain–Computer Interfaces (BCIs) enable direct interaction between neural activity and electronic systems and are increasingly relevant for neuroprosthetics, human–machine interaction, and the treatment of neurological disorders. While advances in neural signal acquisition and processing have accelerated progress in this field, the long-term reliability of implantable neural probes remains a critical challenge. Conventional silicon-based interfaces exhibit a strong mechanical mismatch with brain tissue, leading to immune response, degradation of signal quality, and limited operational lifetime. This Seed Project proposes the development of a stiffness-adaptive neural interface that combines soft-matter materials with miniaturised electronic circuits for neural data acquisition and transmission. The probe is engineered to be mechanically rigid during implantation and to autonomously transition into a soft, brain-compliant state after insertion. This adaptive mechanical behavior enhances long-term tissue compatibility while preserving stable electrical performance. The stiffness transition is enabled by a substrate that, in its dry state, forms a sharp and rigid probe capable of penetrating brain tissue, but rapidly transforms into an ultrasoft material—mechanically comparable to brain tissue—upon exposure to the hydrated neural environment. The electrodes and interconnects are based on a proprietary liquid-metal composite, deposited and micropatterned using microfabrication and soft-lithography techniques, followed by biocompatible electrode surface modification. This stretchable liquid-metal composite maintains robust electrical conductivity under mechanical deformation and hydration-induced swelling, enabling stable neural interfacing throughout the stiffness transition and during in vivo operation. At the system level, the project focuses on integrating the soft probe with compact electronic interfaces, including low-noise signal conditioning, scalable electrode interconnect architectures, and wireless communication to a wearable, head-mounted unit. Within the scope of this exploratory project, emphasis is placed on demonstrating material–electronics co-design, electrical functionality, and compatibility with existing neural recording platforms, while establishing the technical foundations for future fully wireless operation. The head-mounted wearable helmet, based on a previously developed and published design from our group, enables the integration of multiple soft probes. This architecture allows simultaneous neural recording from multiple brain regions when required, in contrast to current state-of-the-art systems that are typically limited to single-region access. In the longer term, this approach aims to enable high-resolution, durable neural interfaces capable of stable, long-term neural data acquisition across multiple brain regions. By tightly integrating adaptive materials, microelectronics, embedded systems, and communication architectures, the project is aligned with objectives of European chip act, and CMU-Portugal ICT technologies, and lays the groundwork for transformative BCI technologies with impact in digital health and human–machine interaction.

Electronic skin (e-skin) patches that adhere to the human epidermis and collect physiological and behavioral data, are potentially transformative in digital health through wireless patient monitoring. Such patches can be used to identify physiological and emotional responses through the collection and classification of diverse multimodal data, including heart, muscle and brain activities (ECG/EMG/EEG respectively), respiration rate, body temperature, contractions during pregnancy, IR Response, blood oxygen, sweat analysis, body motion, and emotional state through Galvanic Skin Response (GSR). When a diverse range of data is fed into a classification algorithm, one may discover new digital biomarkers, i.e. correlations between the physiological data, and various health conditions. Over the last 5 years, Tavakoli´s Lab at ISR/UC has been collaborating intensively with Majidi´s lab at CMU on methods for scalable fabrication of stretchable e-skins and “electronic tattoos” as a part of a previous CMU-Portugal initiative: the STRETCHTRONICS project. Such efforts have resulted in a number of research breakthroughs in the field, including direct printing of electronic tattoos, and have led to numerous publications in high impact journals (e.g. Advanced Materials, IF:21.95), a jointly filed PCT patent, and creation of two startups in Portugal and the US. Now that the materials architecture and fabrication methods have been largely established, we are ready to move to the next step, i.e. application of this technology for patient care with the goal of hassle-free wireless patient monitoring, as a step towards untethering the patients from the hospital bed, and from the hospital itself to foster domiciliary hospitalization. WoW proposes a novel architecture centered on a series of biomonitoring stickers for patients, including fully untethered, simple and very low-cost printed stickers (0.5-20€ depending on the application). In this architecture, patient´s beds will have a central role. An ad-hoc smart IoT unit will be embedded in the beds, as part of an IoT infrastructure that connects to several biomonitoring stickers at one end and to the Hospital Information System (HIS) on the other end. The bed-sticker connection is not limited to data acquisition and transmission, but also enables energy transfer through near field and far field wireless energy harvesting via printed coils and antennas on the stickers. We have already performed initial feasibility studies on the proposed architecture. In addition, each bed is an IoT node that communicates with Globalcare, a proprietary Hospital Information System developed by the project leader company - Glintt. Globalcare virtually covers all hospital activities and needs of hospital teams, also integrating and communicating with other systems. The project leader, Glintt is one of the main providers of hospital information systems in the country and is present in about 80% of all hospitals in Portugal, as well as in Spain, Angola and Brazil, through subsidiary companies. As end user, the WoW project integrates the Coimbra Hospital and Universitary Centre (CHUC), the largest hospital of the country with a recognized track record in R&D and innovation. WoW will follow up our excellent collaboration with the Soft Materials Lab (Majidi) at CMU, one of the top 5 well-known labs in the field. ISR will lead ICT activities in 3 fronts: Soft and Printed Microelectronics, Energy Harvesting and AI & IoT . At UC, we count on the polymer group (Coelho & Serra) for polymer synthesis and characterization, a group which has a very close collaboration with Matyjaszewski’s group at CMU. The proposed project involves expertise in stretchable electronics, digital health, distributed systems, IoT, AI, software engineering, energy storage and harvesting, embedded systems, material and polymer science, and health, and is an example of a truly interdisciplinary project with clear economic and social impacts.

ISR will provide tools, equipment and engineering services for development and characterization of the Insole and Midsole SOlutions. Digital fabrication laboratory and Printed Electronics Laboratory of ISR pose various types of FDM and Polyjet printers, as well as equipment for characterization of the materials deformation under pressure and strain. ISR Tasks includes providing the necessary support for Printing Insoles with the FDM printer, Outsoles with the Polyjet printer, and their characterization using electromechanical testing devices.

As atuais Interfaces Humano-Máquina (IHM) são compostas por hardware, duro, rígido e frágil. Não são, por isso, adequadas para serem adaptadas a tecidos e órgãos humanos que são maleáveis. Esta discordância conspícua foi uma inspiração para esta nova área da eletrónica extensível. MEMS multicamadas, microfluídicos, ultrafinos e extensíveis e flexíveis serão desenvolvidos num material adesivo bio-compatível que se cola na epiderme. Diversas camadas funcionais ultrafinas, extensíveis e flexíveis, são produzidas por um processo de laminação aditivo, incluindo uma camada com acreditação médica para interface com a pele, uma camada com os elétrodos para as medições, interconexões com eletrónicos integrados, e ainda uma camada para armazenamento de energia flexível (por exemplo, baterias ultra-finas). O objectivo é juntar todas estas camadas num filme adesivo de 2mm pronto a utilizar. A equipa do DERMOTRONICS envolve especialistas nos campos da eletrónica, MEMS, energia, polímeros e eletrónica impressa, contando ainda com os apoios de um dos laboratório mundialmente reconhecidos em eletrónica flexível e extensível ? Soft Materials Lab da Carnegie Mellon University, bem como dos Departamentos de Eng. Eletrotécnica e Química da Universidade de Coimbra. Dermotronics pretende abordar três principais desafios numa estratégia orientada para a aplicação. 1. Métodos de fabrico e Integração de MEMS flexíveis 2. Circuitos flexíveis para o armazenamento de energia (materiais e métodos). 3. Sensores extensíveis e flexíveis. Eletrónica flexível e extensível é a base da Interface Humano-Máquina do futuro e terá um significativo impacto socioeconómico. Prevê-se que dimensão do mercado da eletrónica impressa para bio-sensores atinja os 7.6 milhares de milhões de dólares em 2027 e é de um interesse estratégico investir rapidamente nesta área para assegurar uma boa quota de mercado. Dermotronics proposes fabrication of stretchable biomonitoring e-skins that bonds over the human epidermis and measures human bio-signals. This can be used for continuous monitoring of human health through acquisition of vital signals. Dermotronics intends to address three main challenges in an application-driven strategy.: 1. Fabrication methods and Sys. Integration of stretchable MEMS 2. Stretchable energy storage circuits (materials and methods). 3. Stretchable sensors (materials for conformal electrodes, and type of transducer).

PAMI, Portuguese Additive Manufacturing Initiative, is an infrasturcture project, which aims to maximize partnerships between the scientific and technological infrastructures in Mechanical Engineering, Materials, Electronics and Biosciences of Portugal central region, with focus on fundamental research and development of new additive manufacturing techniques, new designs and materials for additive processes (with characterization of their properties), Heatlh Technologies, medical robots, flexible electronics, medical prostheses and use of MEMS. It will also promote and support the creation of spinoff companies for technology development and dissemination. In addition to the scientific impacts, this initiative will also have educational, economic and social impacts related to medical applications. Additive Manufacturing (AM) is defined as ?a process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing technologies. AM means greater flexibility in design and customization, less scrap, and shorter production cycles and allows: focus-ondesign, multi material integration, complex electromechanical and MEMS system with embedded electronics, customized parts and systems (e.g. for biomedical implants) and resource efficiency. AM is considered as the third Industrial revolution after the automation of textile industry and assembly lines. It has the potential to meet the future needs for resource efficiency, efficient manufacturing systems, material integration, new manufacturing processes ? providing world beating platforms for new, agile, more cost-effective manufacturing processes and new business models. President Obama drew attention to AM for its ?potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything?, different institutes opened in USA in China and Europe. AM impacts almost all of Portuguese strategic emerging industries (e.g. advanced equipment manufacturing, mold Industry, information technology biomedicine); PAMI intends to respond to a crucial competitiveness challenge and threat to future property: closing the gap between R& activities and the development of technological innovations in production of goods. PAMI is also inline with the CRER2020 program for the central region of Portugal. All nodes of PAMI will follow he following general aims: (1) Fostering novel research areas and interdisciplinary fields, (2) To encourage, support and help in creation of products and launch of spin off companies from the current research institutes in fields of engineering, and medical sciences, (3) to provide educational services and prepare the new generation of engineers and (4) to provide prototyping services to external companies/ Institutes; PAMI proposes a clever distribution of excellent infrastructures within central region of Portugal with different areas of speciality: Mechanical, Materials, and Electrical Engineering, BioSc. IPL: Network Leader, fundamental research and development of novel techniques for AM. DEM-UC: production of new materials and characterization of raw materials and final components: ISR/CNC-UC: support research activities in mobile robots, medical robots, flexible electronics, Formulário Portugal 2020 Página 32 de 64 506971244 :: INSTITUTO POLITÉCNICO DE LEIRIA soft robots, bio-compatible and active medical prosthesis, and selected areas of MEMS among others. IPN: Creation and support of spin offs; In addition to the scientific impacts as described above, PAMI will have different Impacts: educational (we estimate 1000 visitants per year from several universities and companies), economic (fostering new spin offs from research institutes, encouraging product development spirit in universities) and social (considering the ambitious research objectives of the consortium related to medical applications).

Stretchtronics is a project in the ambient of CMU-Portugal international cooperation project, in which Institute of Systems and Robotics of the University of Coimbra is closely cooperating with the active Soft Machines Laboratory of the Carnegie Mellon University to investigate novel fabrication methods and show-case applications of Stretchable Electronics, including wearable systems for bio monitoring and active prosthetic hands. It also involves methods and materials for additive manufacturing (3D printing) of stretchable electronics. The project involves also the polymer group of CEMUC from University of Coimbra and Center for development and CDRSP-Ipleira (Centro para o Desenvolvimento Rápido e Sustentavel do Produto). The interdisciplinary project joins experts from material and polymer science, electrical engineering, additive manufacturing and stretchable electronics.

Soft robotics requires and offers rich new opportunities for multidisciplinary collaborations involving organic chemistry, robotics, mechanical, computer, biomedical, and electrical engineering. Research in soft robotics includes soft actuators and sensors, soft material creation and modeling, flexible electronics, control and simulation of highly deformable structures, Biohybrid devices, etc. Dr. Tavakoli’s group in ISR-UC has recently developed a very promising prototype of the “SoftHand”. Inspired by biological systems, this prototype integrates complaint and rigid elements into a robotic hand that can be used both as medical prosthesis and industrial applications. By integration of elastic joints and compliant grasping pads rather than discrete revolute joints, the soft hand showed a very good adaptability to a large number of the objects. SML-CMU is one of the few and the leading labs in the world that investigates technologies for soft sensors, including soft stretchable and tactile sensors. This project launches a collaboration between the Institute of Systems and Robotics of University of Coimbra (ISR-UC) and Soft Machine Lab of Robotics institute at Carnegie Melon University (SML-CMU), in order to foster some areas related to the soft technologies and in particular to move toward development of a fully integrated softhand, that integrates the Soft-MEMS skin into the ISR-Softhand