Scientists have created a smartwatch that can completely dissolve in water
In a study published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces , Chinese scientists talked about a smartwatch that can completely dissolve in water in 40 hours.
First, experts developed a new type of zinc-based nanocomposite material that will dissolve in water. The developers hoped to use the material to create temporary electronic circuits, but its conductivity turned out to be insufficient for use in consumer devices.
Then the scientists added silver nanowires to the material and printed the resulting mixture on a water-degradable polymer and “strengthened the chains by applying small drops of water that promote chemical reactions and then evaporate.”
In this way, they managed to create printed circuit boards, which were placed in a case made of polyvinyl alcohol – it is also soluble in water and biodegradable. The degradable smartwatch is equipped with sensors that measure your heart rate, blood oxygen level and step count. The device connected to the smartphone app using Bluetooth.
As a result of the tests carried out, it was found that the dissolvable smartwatches are able to withstand splashes of water drops and sweat. But when immersed in water for forty hours, the prototype completely disintegrates.
Developers claim to have laid the foundation for biodegradable technology and hope that the new technology will help solve the problem of e-waste.
Earlier it was reported that Apple will implement a new system on its devices to search for prohibited photos. Special algorithms will analyze data from phones and tablets to search for child pornography materials and prevent its distribution.
