Light-insensitive organic solar-powered amplifiers

Q Qiang Wu (Jiangsu Cancer Hospital Nanjing China) S Shijie Wang (Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco-Security of Southwest China, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University) W Wei Gao Z Zeng Chen J Jun Tao X Xinyue Song S Sen Yan (State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) H Haiming Zhu (Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Excited-State Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Fundamental and Transdisciplinary Research) K Ke Zhou L Long Jiang X Xiaomin Xu (Curtin Centre for Advanced Energy Materials and Technologies (CAEMT), Western Australian School of Mines (WASM)) A Alex K.-Y. Jen W Wei Ma

Abstract

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.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 16, Issue 1
Published November 27, 2025
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (13)

Q

Qiang Wu

Jiangsu Cancer Hospital Nanjing China

S

Shijie Wang

Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco-Security of Southwest China, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University

W

Wei Gao

Z

Zeng Chen

J

Jun Tao

X

Xinyue Song

S

Sen Yan

State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM), The MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

H

Haiming Zhu

Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Excited-State Energy Conversion and Energy Storage, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Fundamental and Transdisciplinary Research

K

Ke Zhou

L

Long Jiang

X

Xiaomin Xu

Curtin Centre for Advanced Energy Materials and Technologies (CAEMT), Western Australian School of Mines (WASM)

A

Alex K.-Y. Jen

W

Wei Ma