Soft Materials for Wearable/Flexible Electrochemical Energy Conversion, Storage, and Biosensor Devices

Abstract

Next-generation wearable technology needs portable flexible energy storage, conversion, and biosensor devices that can be worn on soft and curved surfaces. The conformal integration of these devices requires the use of soft, flexible, light materials, and substrates with similar mechanical properties as well as high performances. In this review, we have collected and discussed the remarkable research contributions of recent years, focusing the attention on the development and arrangement of soft and flexible materials (electrodes, electrolytes, substrates) that allowed traditional power sources and sensors to become viable and compatible with wearable electronics, preserving or improving their conventional performances.

Advances in Biosensors and Diagnostic Technologies Using Nanostructures and Nanomaterials

“…For example, the type of transduction (e.g., optical, electrochemical) dictates what instrumentation may be needed for signal processing, which in turn, influences material choices. [111][112][113][114] For example, signal output measurements may require computer software, microscopy, wireless, and/or other electrical readout. [115][116][117] At the same time, biorecognition elements need to confer biological specificity to a particular target, which often involves functionalization or biomimicry.…”

Biomarkers and Detection Platforms for Human Health and Performance Monitoring: A Review

“…Such batteries tend to be relatively heavy and bulky for skin‐conformal wearable applications and show minimal power capacities to operate sensors for a prolonged period of time (about 24 h). Advanced power generation, storage, and management technologies have emerged to solve these power issues, and some well‐organized review papers [ 228 , 229 , 230 , 231 ] have already been published. Here, we show a few most recent advancements (since 2018) that have successfully integrated power sources with biomarker sensors and exhibiting wireless operation.…”

Recent Progress in Intelligent Wearable Sensors for Health Monitoring and Wound Healing Based on Biofluids

“…Live sensing, data recording, and computing have been performed using external devices and portable systems ( Wang C. et al, 2018 ; Ershad et al, 2020 ; Hanna et al, 2020 ). Compared with the traditional medical health monitoring that relies on a typical medical infirmary, the intelligent biochemical sensors have attracted ever-increasing attentions for their flexibility, rapidity, biocompatibility, high specificity, and low cost ( Kim et al, 2019 ; Bocchetta et al, 2020 ; Koralli and Mouzakis, 2021 ). More importantly, this technology creates two-way feedback between doctors and patients to develop more personalized and scientific health care programs ( Hughes, 2008 ).…”