Researchers develop unique 'Electronic tongue' using graphene and MoS2
Researchers at Penn State University recently developed an electronic “tongue” and an electronic “gustatory cortex” based on graphene ans MoS2. The artificial tastebuds comprise tiny, graphene-based electronic sensors called chemitransistors that can detect gas or chemical molecules. The other part of the circuit uses memtransistors, which is a transistor that remembers past signals, made with molybdenum disulfide. This allowed the researchers to design an “electronic gustatory cortex” that connect a physiology-drive “hunger neuron,” psychology-driven “appetite neuron” and a “feeding circuit.”
For instance, when detecting salt, or sodium chloride, the device senses sodium ions, explained Subir Ghosh, a doctoral student in engineering science and mechanics and co-author of the study. “This means the device can ‘taste’ salt,” Ghosh said.