On May 2, Professor 페스타토토 Chang-soon's team from the Major in Biomedical Engineering developed a multifunctional fiber device that unifies two electrodes based on a double helix corrugated structure. Previous electrodes had a problem in that their spatial efficiency and endurance lacked and they were susceptible to external impacts, making physical contact between two electrodes. The research team of Professor 페스타토토 created a multifunctional fiber that had electrodes into one by making a new double helix corrugated structure.
The research result was published in 'Advanced Functional Materials', an international academic journal in the materials science field. Here is a talk with Professor 페스타토토 who helped make a better living environment through innovative technology development.

Normal devices that we use require two electrodes. To have these devices well-functioning, the electrodes should not contact with each other. It is because there is a chance of accident, explosion, or disfunctioning. Professor 페스타토토 thought of a way to have the two in the same space but not touching each other.

As they were making 'strings' in their research, making a space to have the electrodes contact each other was absolutely hard. In comparison to other electronics, the length is longer and the diameter is smaller. 
Hence, inspired by a DNA structure, Professor 페스타토토 started making a way to have the two fiber-inserted electrodes coexist without touching.
There were other structures such as parallel and twisted, limitations exist that the electrodes physically touched each other due to external shock. Professor Choi said, "To refine this problem, I installed a flexible and thin rubber tube in the middle and created a formation that fiber covers around the tube in a double helix form."

There is a lot of attention to wearable technologies. Fiber electrodes are an important part of wearable systems and usually, one device takes care of one function. Professor 페스타토토's new structure-based has means that one device can have many functions, making the electrode multifunctional.
The electrode can perform as a sensor that feels various pressures such as twist or duration and an actuator that fibers move when electricity flows, holding an object like a muscle. This is all available due to the double helix corrugated structure in which two electrodes exist without touching each other.
Professor Choi said, "Nobody raised a question about why they are not going beyond body temperature maintenance and personality expression. In the future, there will be a new wearable market that combines science technology and clothing." About the future market, he expected, "By wearing a cloth, it can be a help for people in an emergency, and can prescribe that fits."
As an example, he raised a situation such as a heart attack. If you have a heart attack during the day or in a crowded place, you can ask for help, but it is very dangerous if it occurs during sleep. When smart clothing is developed, it can diagnose the condition through sensors in emergency situations and notify the surrounding family members, and in urgent cases, activate the battery function to act as a defibrillator. Professor Choi emphasized, "To go to this stage, there should be more research. However, for a more comfortable and safe future, research in that field should continue."

His motivation is pure 'interest'. Professor Choi added, "The joy that I got when doing something that nobody has done or when I achieved something difficult, was a motivation that continued my research. The fact that research I started out of my interest became a help to people makes me really proud. I want to keep studying continuously and be helpful in real life."
About his most memorable moment, Professor Choi chose 'the process of achievement through the constant attempts of the research team students'. The idea of the study came out, but the process of solving it was expected to be difficult. He said, "It is more valuable and proud to have done it without giving up until the end."
Lastly, he gave a word to Hanyang students. "Research needs a lot of time and might make you feel difficult. But if you make it in the end, I am sure your sense of achievement and happiness will be indescribable. Let's go together step by step!"