Panzer delivers lecture at Royal Society

Professor and Dean of Research Matthew Panzer of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering recently delivered a lecture at the Royal Society in London, presenting innovative research on ionogel and eutectogel electrolytes for wearable health sensors. His talk, titled “Ionogel and Eutectogel Electrolytes for Wearable Sensors to Support Healthy Aging,” focused on developing unobtrusive monitoring technologies that help older adults maintain their independence.

With increasing life expectancy, the need for effective, non-intrusive health monitoring solutions has grown significantly. Panzer highlighted recent studies showing that wearable strain sensors—which track subtle movements—may be promising and cost-effective tools for early health intervention. He provided insights into material selection and design principles of ionogels and eutectogels, flexible gel-like substances with high ionic conductivity and tunable stretchability, positioning them as key materials for future wearable health-monitoring applications. Panzer is part of an interdisciplinary Tufts group that is developing a wearable patch to help detect markers of cognitive decline using these materials.   

Panzer’s lecture was part of the two-day Royal Society event, “Ionic Liquids and the Future of Soft Materials,” which explored the role of ionic liquids in designing next-generation materials. The symposium gathered over 30 speakers and fostered collaboration between researchers in science and engineering through lectures, discussions, and a poster session.

The Royal Society is the world’s oldest continuously operating scientific academy and is home to many of the most distinguished scientists globally. It plays a crucial role in shaping scientific policy, supporting researchers, engaging with industry, and advancing education.

Panzer is a leading expert in ionic liquids, ionogels, eutectogels, polymers, ion transport, and electrochemical energy storage. At Tufts, he leads the Green Energy and Novel Electrolytes Lab, a research group dedicated to developing safer and more sustainable energy solutions through innovative materials design. 

Learn more about Professor and Dean of Research Matthew Panzer.