Inexpensive and easy-to-use diagnostic tools for fast health screening are imperative, especially in the developing world, where portability and affordability are a necessity. Accurate monitoring of metabolite levels can provide useful information regarding key metabolic activities of the body and detect the concomitant irregularities such as in the case of diabetes, a worldwide chronic disease. Today, the majority of daily glucose monitoring tools rely on piercing the skin to draw blood. The pain and discomfort associated with finger pricking have created a global need to develop non-invasive, portable glucose assays. In this work, we develop a disposable analytical device which can measure physiologically relevant glucose concentrations in human saliva based on enzymatic electrochemical detection. We use inkjet-printing technology for the rapid and low-cost deposition of all the components of this glucose sensor, from the electronics to the biorecognition elements, on commercially available paper substrates. The only electronic component of the sensor is the conducting polymer poly(3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), while the biorecognition element comprises of the enzyme glucose oxidase coupled with an electron mediator. We demonstrate that one month after its fabrication and storage in air-free environment, the sensor maintains its function with only minor performance loss. This fully printed, all-polymer biosensor with its ease of fabrication, accuracy, sensitivity and compatibility with easy-to-obtain biofluids such as saliva aids in the development of next generation low-cost, noninvasive, eco-friendly, and disposable diagnostic tools.

International audienceFully printed electrodes consisting of a conducting polymer and an ionic liquid gel are fabricated on a stretchable textile. They are shown to record cardiac activity while the wearer is moving and for long periods of time, paving the way for the development of low-cost devices for continuous health monitoring

Inkjet-printed PEDOT:PSS electrodes are shown to record cutaneous electrophysiological signals such as electrocardiograms via a simple finger-to-electrode contact. The recordings are of high quality and show no deterioration over a 3 month period, paving the way for the development of the next generation of low-cost, convenient-to-use healthcare monitoring devices.

Novel emerging materials for organic solar cells, such as nonfullerene acceptors, are paving the way for commercialization of organic photovoltaics. Their utilization in unconventional applications, such as conformable and disposable electronics, has turned the focus to inkjet printing as a fabrication method with advantages including low material usage, rapid digital design changes, and high resolution. In this work, the fabrication of efficient nonfullerene acceptor devices through inkjet printing for organic photovoltaic applications is reported for the first time. The engineering of printable poly‐3‐hexylthiophene:rhodanine‐benzothiadiazole‐coupled indacenodithiophene (P3HT:O‐IDTBR) inks is centered on tuning the rheological properties for proper droplet ejection and the selection of solvents, including hydrocarbons, that meet solubility and volatility requirements to avoid common inkjet printing complications like nozzle clogging. The optimization of printing parameters including drop spacing and deposition temperatures results in homogeneous P3HT:O‐IDTBR films with device efficiencies of up to 6.47% for small lab‐scale devices (0.1 cm2), comparable with that of spin‐coating or blade‐coating. A 2 cm2 inkjet‐printed device is also shown to achieve a remarkable efficiency of 6%. To demonstrate their potential usage in customized applications, large‐area devices are fabricated in the shape of a marine turtle with 4.76% efficiency, showcasing the versatility of the inkjet‐printing process for efficient organic photovoltaics.

Ultra‐lightweight solar cells have attracted enormous attention due to their ultra‐conformability, flexibility, and compatibility with applications including electronic skin or miniaturized electronics for biological applications. With the latest advancements in printing technologies, printing ultrathin electronics is becoming now a reality. This work offers an easy path to fabricate indium tin oxide (ITO)‐free ultra‐lightweight organic solar cells through inkjet‐printing while preserving high efficiencies. A method consisting of the modification of a poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) ink with a methoxysilane‐based cross‐linker (3‐glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GOPS)) is presented to chemically modify the structure of the electrode layer. Combined with plasma and solvent post‐treatments, this approach prevents shunts and ensures precise patterning of solar cells. By using poly(3‐hexylthiophene) along rhodanine‐benzothiadiazole‐coupled indacenodithiophene (P3HT:O‐IDTBR), the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the fully printed solar cells is boosted up to 4.73% and fill factors approaching 65%. All inkjet‐printed ultrathin solar cells on a 1.7 µm thick biocompatible parylene substrate are fabricated with PCE reaching up to 3.6% and high power‐per‐weight values of 6.3 W g−1. After encapsulation, the cells retain their performance after being exposed for 6 h to aqueous environments such as water, seawater, or phosphate buffered saline, paving the way for their integration in more complex circuits for biological systems.