Development of a Stretchable Thermoacoustic Electronic Skin Using Aligned CNT Bundles

Development of a Stretchable Thermoacoustic Electronic Skin Using Aligned CNT Bundles

A research team led by Professor Jongbaeg Kim in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Yonsei University has developed a fully stretchable thermoacoustic electronic skin capable of generating stable sound even under large mechanical deformation. Conventional speakers generate sound through the mechanical vibration of a diaphragm, which limits their integration into stretchable wearable devices. To overcome this limitation, the research team employed a thermoacoustic mechanism in which periodic Joule heating of geometrically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) bundles generates pressure waves in the surrounding air, enabling sound generation without a vibrating diaphragm or rigid mechanical components. The developed device maintained stable acoustic performance even under 100% tensile strain and demonstrated reliable sound generation when attached to the finger and wrist, without being significantly affected by body movements. This technology is expected to have potential applications in next-generation stretchable acoustic interfaces, including wearable speakers, soft robotics, and human–machine interfaces (HMIs). This work was published in the international journal Advanced Functional Materials and was also selected for the journal’s Front Cover.

The link: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adfm.77031