Graphene Tattoos [UPSC Notes]

Scientists have devised a graphene “Tattoo” to keep the heart pumping properly. What are Graphene Tattoos? What are its applications? Know more about this development in this article. This topic is relevant for the IAS exam science and technology, as well as health segments.

What are Graphene Tattoos?

Image source: BBC

• The term “Graphene Tattoo” refers to a made-up application of graphene, a sheet of carbon atoms organised in a hexagonal lattice and only one atom thick.
• A translucent layer of graphene is sandwiched in the tattoos between sheets of stretchable silicone and ultrathin polymer. 
• The device receives electricity from the power source through the gold tape that connects the graphene to the wires.

Uses of Graphene Tattoo:

• The graphene patch is made to resemble a conventional tattoo in that it is transparent, non-invasive, and easy to wear.
• People who have cardiac arrhythmias, or disturbances of the heart’s rhythm, can benefit from the newly developed e-tattoo because it can simultaneously treat their irregular heartbeats. 

How do Graphene Tattoos Work?

• Despite being as thin as paper, the graphene tattoo implant performs similarly to a conventional pacemaker. 
• This “tattoo” has sensors that can recognise the electrical signals the heart produces. 
• Patients and doctors may remotely monitor heart health thanks to the wireless transmission of the data gathered by the graphene ‘tattoo’ to a smartphone app.

Significance of Graphene Tattoos:

• The discovery of graphene electronic tattoos (GETs) presented a number of difficulties, thus researchers investigated a number of novel pacemaker replacement strategies. 
• After developing a novel approach to enclose the graphene tattoo and secure it to the surface of a beating heart, scientists produced a ground-breaking finding. 
• Notably, it is the thinnest known cardiac implant because the thickness of all layers combined is less than 100 microns.