A new and improved technology has been developed by researchers at Johannes Kepler University Linz together with colleagues from the USA.
The revolutionary sensor technology could be of great importance for both disease diagnostics and fitness monitoring. The problem so far: conventional monitoring devices often have high energy requirements and usually involve considerable physical activity to generate enough sweat to stimulate the biosensors. Too little sweat, on the other hand, does not allow multifunctional analysis. In a collaboration between JKU (Department of Soft Matter Physics as well as LIT Soft Material Lab; Head: Prof. Martin Kaltenbrunner ) and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena (California, USA), a groundbreaking wearable skin sensor has now been developed that enables continuous monitoring of metabolism by analyzing body sweat, powered solely by a lightweight and flexible solar cell.
Proprietary solar material developed
"Addressing modern energy challenges requires the extensive use of sustainable technologies on both large and small scales, enabling a wide range of applications such as for medical devices and the Internet of Things," emphasizes JKU researcher Stepan Demchyshyn , one of the study’s lead authors. Lightweight, adaptable and highly efficient photovoltaics are key to making the next generation of wearable electronics truly autonomous."A flexible and lightweight solar cell module, only the size of a 2-euro coin, provides power for continuous data acquisition anywhere light is available. Physicists* at JKU have developed an innovative quasi-2D perovskite solar material for this purpose to create a versatile energy source. These solar cells function not only under normal sunlight, but also in dim indoor lighting, where they actually double their efficiency.
The perovskite solar cell is complemented by a compact, wireless and portable sensor platform that effortlessly collects and analyzes a wide range of physicochemical data such as glucose levels, pH balance, salt concentration, sweat rate and skin temperature. Additionally, this comprehensive monitoring system actively adjusts its power consumption to ensure optimal performance under varying lighting conditions.
Wei Gao , assistant professor of medical engineering, researcher at Heritage Medical Research Institute and Ronald and JoAnne Willens Scholar at Caltech, emphasizes the importance of modular design and scalable manufacturing techniques for wearable technologies. "Techniques such as laser engraving and inkjet printing used in biosensor manufacturing not only ensure efficient large-scale production, but also keep costs down. This makes advanced biomedical technologies accessible to a wider population," says Assistant Professor Gao, whose team is responsible for developing the welding sensor module. He sees the current platform as a versatile starting point that can be expanded in the future to monitor other clinically relevant proteins and molecules.
Technology suitable for everyday use
This breakthrough technology allows users* to continuously track their metabolic markers throughout the day without interruption. This provides them with valuable information for personalized health management and individual diagnoses. Thanks to the innovative microfluidic sweat suction, which does not require strenuous physical activity, the device can be used in a wide range of activities. These breakthroughs also allow people with limited mobility, including children, the elderly or patients* with movement disorders, to take full advantage of this technology.(German:,,Ein autonomer, tragbarer Biosensor, angetrieben durch eine Perowskit-Solarzelle") presented in the current issue of the renowned journal Nature Electronics opens up new possibilities for wearable technologies in healthcare, sports science and personalized health monitoring in daily life.
