Self-powered tactile sensing is the upcoming technological orientation for developing compact, robust, and energy-saving devices in human-machine interfacing and electronic skin. Here, we report an intriguing type of sensing device composed of a Pt crack-based sensor in series with a polymer solar cell as a building block for energetically autonomous, wearable, and tactile sensor. This coplanar device enables human activity and physiological monitoring under indoor light illumination (2 mW/cm2) with acceptable and readible output signals. Additionally, the device can also function as a photodetector and a thermometer owing to the rapid response of the solar cell made from polymers. Consequently, the proposed device is multifuntional, mechanically robust, flexible, stretchable, and eco-friendly, which makes it suitable for long-term medical healthcare and wearable technology as well as environmental indication. Our designed green energy powered device therefore opens up a new route of developing renewable energy based portable and wearable systems.
Keywords: photodetector; self-powered electronics; strain sensor; stretchable optoelectronics; tactile sensor; temperature sensor.