Self-powered, high sensitivity printed e-tattoo sensor for unobtrusive arterial pulse wave monitoring

• Published in: Nano energy Vol. 102; p. 107625
• Main Authors: Laurila, Mika-Matti, Peltokangas, Mikko, Montero, Karem Lozano, Verho, Jarmo, Haapala, Mira, Oksala, Niku, Vehkaoja, Antti, Mäntysalo, Matti
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2022
• Subjects: Additive fabrication; Arterial pulse wave measurement; Determination of direct piezoelectric coefficients; Electronic tattoo devices; P(VDF-TrFE); Piezoelectric polymer sensors; Determination of direct piezoelectric coefficients; Arterial pulse wave measurement; Additive fabrication; Electronic tattoo devices; Piezoelectric polymer sensors; P(VDF-TrFE)
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2022.107625

Self-powered, highly unobtrusive, low-cost and accurate arterial pulse wave monitoring devices need to be developed to enable cost-efficient monitoring of entire cardiovascular disease risk groups. We report the development of a scalable fabrication process for a highly unobtrusive piezoelectric ultra-thin (t ~ 4,2 µm) e-tattoo arterial pulse wave sensor which utilizes only transparent and biocompatible polymer-based materials. The ferroelectric performance of the ultra-thin P(VDF-TrFE) material layer is optimized through the use of crosslinked PEDOT:PSS electrodes; this results in ~70 % and ~34 % improvements in remanent polarization (Pr) and coercive field (Ec), respectively, when compared to the sensors with pristine PEDOT:PSS electrodes. The ultra-thin form factor enables access to the high bending mode sensitivity of the P(VDF-TrFE) material layer; the maximum sensitivity value achieved in uniaxial and multiaxial bending is ~1700 pC N-1, which is ~50 times higher than the measured normal mode sensitivity. The increased sensitivity is linked to a specific set of direct piezoelectric coefficients using combination of experimental results, statistical analysis and finite element modeling. Finally, the accuracy of the e-tattoo sensor is demonstrated in the non-invasive measurement of radial artery pulse wave by comparing the signal to that obtained with reference device from 7 study subjects. [Display omitted] •Scalable printing based fabrication process for highly unobtrusive self-powered piezoelectric arterial pulse wave sensor.•Ferroelectric performance of P(VDF-TrFE) optimized by using GOPS cross-linked PEDOT:PSS electrodes.•High bending mode sensitivity of P(VDF-TrFE) employed via the truly ultra-thin form factor of the device (t = 4.2 µm).•High bending mode sensitivity of the P(VDF-TrFE) related to a specific set of direct piezoelectric coefficients.•In-dept investigation of the sensor accuracy in arterial pulse wave measurement (7 test subjects, reference device).