Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Wearable bio-sensors using organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) powered by flexible organic solar cells (OSCs) show promise for electrophysiological monitoring. However, single OECT bio-sensors face unstable outputs due to the limitations of OSCs under low-light conditions and poor energy autonomy. Here, we show a low-power self-powered physiological sensor employing a dual-OECTs configuration, connected in series and powered by the optimized OSCs, which shows more stable signal output and faster response compared to single OECT bio-sensors. Our devices employ the efficient and more stable OSCs to power amplifier by suppressing charge recombination and improving flexibility, thereby facilitating long-term, on-demand use. This integrated device can be attached to human-skin to stably monitor signals, including electrocardiograms, electromyograms and electrooculograms across a wide range of illumination intensities (500 lux-50,000 lux). The design offers a simple architecture for wearable low-power self-powered bio-sensors without external energy supplies/storage, highlighting their potential in real-time disease diagnosis and prevention scenarios.
Source: Nature Communications
Institutions: Xi'an Jiaotong University, City University of Hong Kong, State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instruments, Zhejiang University, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, CNPC Tubular Goods Research Institute (China), China National Petroleum Corporation (China)
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
OpenAlex ID: W4416758677