Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a sensory textile. The method includes: providing a conductive polymer, a dopant and a solvent; mixing the conductive polymer, dopant and solvent to form a mixture having a predetermined ratio of the conductive polymer and the dopant, and a predetermined concentration of the conductive polymer; contacting a fabric with the mixture to coat the fabric with the conductive polymer and dopant; and drying the coated fabric. Also disclosed is a sensory textile device that includes such a sensory textile, a conductive backing layer and a spacer layer disposed between the sensory textile and conductive backing layer.

Abstract: A photonic device is described in an embodiment. The photonic device comprising: a 2D material layer formed on a substrate; a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the 2D material layer; and a plurality of nanoantennas formed on the 2D material layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode. Each of the plurality of nanoantennas having dimensions associated with a resonant wavelength of the photonic device and being configured to act as a non-centrosymmetric centre for providing anisotropy to generate a photocurrent in response to a polarized light incident on the photonic device, and the polarized light having a light wavelength near the resonant wavelength. The plurality of nanoantennas comprises one or more metal layers.

Abstract: A metasurface uses pairs of nanorod plasmonic resonators that are arranged perpendicular to each other and have an in-plane asymmetry and an out-of-plane asymmetry in their geometric arrangement. The metasurface can be used to provide chirality sensor that provides an enhanced vibrational circular dichroism signal. The sensor can be used in various different molecule-sensing applications.

Abstract: Infrared spectrometer and method of performing infrared spectrometry.

Abstract: A wearable human machine interface (HMI) comprises a plurality of triboelectric finger bending sensors configured to sense finger bending, deflecting or curling; a triboelectric palm sensor configured to detect an applied force and its direction; and at least one mechanical stimulator configured to provide haptic feedback. The human machine interface is configured to be worn on a human hand and may take the form of a glove.

Abstract: A system to provide a human-machine interface to enable a user in a real space to act/sense in a virtual space. The system includes: a ring wearable by a finger of the user; a plurality of sensors, and a plurality of feedback units. The plurality of sensors being multimodal, including: a tactile sensor disposed on an inner surface of the ring; and a temperature sensor disposed on an outer surface of the ring. The plurality of feedback units being multimodal, including: a vibrator disposed on the ring, the vibrator being disposed on the outer surface of the ring; and a heater disposed on the inner surface of the ring. The system includes a controller configured to drive the plurality of sensors and the plurality of feedback devices to enable concurrent multimodal sensing and multimodal feedback.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Such TENGs comprise at least one tribolectric (TE) layer comprising two surfaces relative movement between which generates a TE charge, and a circuit. The circuit comprises a switch, a sensor, and a load. The switch has an open condition in which the TE charge accumulates (the accumulated TE charge), and a closed condition in which the accumulated TE charge discharges between the two surfaces across the load, the sensor determining a time constant (?) of discharge of the accumulated TE charge across the load.

Abstract: A system 300 for determining predicted component concentrations of a target mixture is described in an embodiment. The system 300 comprises a mid-infrared waveguide sensor 302 configured to measure absorption spectra and a computer 304.

Abstract: A gas sensor, a method of manufacturing a gas sensor, a method for fabricating a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) die for a heater or thermopile, and a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) die for a heater or thermopile. The gas sensor comprises a first micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) die comprising a light source; a second MEMS die comprising a light detector; a sample chamber disposes in an optical path between the light source and the light detector; and a holder substrate; wherein the first and second MEMS dies are disposed on the holder substrate in a vertical orientation relative to the holder.

Abstract: A triboelectric sensor comprises a substrate; at least one grid structure disposed in or on the substrate; and at least one electrode for collecting triboelectric charges that are generated by sliding of an object over a surface of the substrate; wherein the at least one grid structure is configured such that motion of the object is detectable from a signal generated by crossing of the object over at least part of the grid structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensory flooring system. The flooring system comprises a plurality of flooring segments and, for each flooring segment, one or more electrode portions. Each electrode portion is responsive to a force applied to the flooring segment and at least one electrode portion of a said flooring segment forms an electrode with at least one electrode portion of another said flooring segment. Moreover, each flooring segment comprises a unique encoding of the one or more electrode portions. Also disclosed is a sensory floor such a sensory flooring system, a receiver for receiving an electrical output from the one or more electrodes formed by said one or more electrode portions of the flooring segments, and a processor for analysing the electrical output and identifying the flooring segment by which the electrical output was produced.

Abstract: A system to provide a human-machine interface to enable a user in a real space to act/sense in a virtual space. The system includes: a ring wearable by a finger of the user; a plurality of sensors, and a plurality of feedback units. The plurality of sensors being multimodal, including: a tactile sensor disposed on an inner surface of the ring; and a temperature sensor disposed on an outer surface of the ring. The plurality of feedback units being multimodal, including: a vibrator disposed on the ring, the vibrator being disposed on the outer surface of the ring; and a heater disposed on the inner surface of the ring. The system includes a controller configured to drive the plurality of sensors and the plurality of feedback devices to enable concurrent multimodal sensing and multimodal feedback.

Abstract: A wearable human machine interface (HMI) comprises a plurality of triboelectric finger bending sensors configured to sense finger bending, deflecting or curling; a triboelectric palm sensor configured to detect an applied force and its direction; and at least one mechanical stimulator configured to provide haptic feedback. The human machine interface is configured to be worn on a human hand and may take the form of a glove.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensory flooring system. The flooring system comprises a plurality of flooring segments and, for each flooring segment, one or more electrode portions. Each electrode portion is responsive to a force applied to the flooring segment and at least one electrode portion of a said flooring segment forms an electrode with at least one electrode portion of another said flooring segment. Moreover, each flooring segment comprises a unique encoding of the one or more electrode portions. Also disclosed is a sensory floor such a sensory flooring system, a receiver for receiving an electrical output from the one or more electrodes formed by said one or more electrode portions of the flooring segments, and a processor for analysing the electrical output and identifying the flooring segment by which the electrical output was produced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Such TENGs comprise at least one tribolectric (TE) layer comprising two surfaces relative movement between which generates a TE charge, and a circuit. The circuit comprises a switch, a sensor, and a load. The switch has an open condition in which the TE charge accumulates (the accumulated TE charge), and a closed condition in which the accumulated TE charge discharges between the two surfaces across the load, the sensor determining a time constant (?) of discharge of the accumulated TE charge across the load.

Abstract: A triboelectric sensor comprises a substrate; at least one grid structure disposed in or on the substrate; and at least one electrode for collecting triboelectric charges that are generated by sliding of an object over a surface of the substrate; wherein the at least one grid structure is configured such that motion of the object is detectable from a signal generated by crossing of the object over at least part of the grid structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a sensory textile. The method includes: providing a conductive polymer, a dopant and a solvent; mixing the conductive polymer, dopant and solvent to form a mixture having a predetermined ratio of the conductive polymer and the dopant, and a predetermined concentration of the conductive polymer; contacting a fabric with the mixture to coat the fabric with the conductive polymer and dopant; and drying the coated fabric. Also disclosed is a sensory textile device that includes such a sensory textile, a conductive backing layer and a spacer layer disposed between the sensory textile and conductive backing layer.

Abstract: A self-powered triboelectric based device, a self-powered triboelectric based device, a user interface, a method of providing user input, an energy harvesting device, a method of harvesting energy, a submersion-detecting device, and a method of submersion-detecting.

Abstract: A gas sensor, a method of manufacturing a gas sensor, a method for fabricating a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) die for a heater or thermopile, and a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) die for a heater or thermopile. The gas sensor comprises a first micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) die comprising a light source; a second MEMS die comprising a light detector; a sample chamber disposes in an optical path between the light source and the light detector; and a holder substrate; wherein the first and second MEMS dies are disposed on the holder substrate in a vertical orientation relative to the holder.

Abstract: A microfluidic device (100) is disclosed. The device comprises a triboelectric sensor (102); an elastically deformable pump (104) arranged to transfer fluid to at least one fluid outlet (108) and triboelectrically activate the sensor; and first and second check valves (106a, 106b) respectively arranged at the inlet and outlet of the pump to control fluid transfer in and out of the pump. When the pump is actuated in conjunction with the check valves to transfer a volume of fluid, at least a portion of the sensor is triboelectrically activated according to an amount of deformation of the pump to generate a corresponding output voltage signal for enabling the volume of fluid transferred by the deformed pump to be determined. A corresponding method of using the device is also disclosed.