Flexible Organic Photovoltaics, Oxide Thin-Film Transistors, and Wearable Sensors
This research community develops flexible, transparent, and stretchable electronic components, specifically organic solar cells, oxide-based thin-film transistors, and soft sensors for wearables.
The work centers on fabricating thin films and flexible substrates that combine optical transparency with electrical conductivity. Recurring materials include indium tin oxide, zinc oxide, silver nanowires, and liquid metals, which serve as transparent electrodes or conductive pathways. Key device architectures include organic solar cells using non-fullerene acceptors and polymer blends, as well as thin-film transistors based on metal oxides. These components are integrated into pressure sensors, strain sensors, and electronic skin for monitoring human health, motion, and physiological signals. The research emphasizes the mechanical robustness, stretchability, and biocompatibility of these materials to enable their use in wearable and implantable systems.
The community represents 15.4% of all indium research and 11.1% of all tin research, with 11,443 and 8,047 papers respectively. It also accounts for 3.3% of silver research, contributing 3,082 papers to that element’s record.
The community comprises 38,480 papers, published primarily in Applied Physics Letters, Thin Solid Films, and ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
Recent work focuses on high-efficiency organic solar cells, including non-fullerene acceptors achieving over 20% efficiency, and the development of biodegradable, self-healing hydrogels for multifunctional wearable electronics.