Optical–Electronic Skin Based on Tea Polyphenol for Dual Signal Wearable Sensing

The rapid development of smart electronic skin has led researchers to design a variety of flexible and stretchable devices that can be used to monitor physiological and environmental signals. In this work, we successfully demonstrate a color-adjustable and conductive wearable optical–electronic skin...

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Main Authors: Jia-Li Xu, Guangyao Zhao, Jiachen Wang, An Tang, Jun-Tao Liu, Zhijie Zhu, Qiang Zhang, Yu Tian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Biosensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/281
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author Jia-Li Xu
Guangyao Zhao
Jiachen Wang
An Tang
Jun-Tao Liu
Zhijie Zhu
Qiang Zhang
Yu Tian
author_facet Jia-Li Xu
Guangyao Zhao
Jiachen Wang
An Tang
Jun-Tao Liu
Zhijie Zhu
Qiang Zhang
Yu Tian
author_sort Jia-Li Xu
collection DOAJ
description The rapid development of smart electronic skin has led researchers to design a variety of flexible and stretchable devices that can be used to monitor physiological and environmental signals. In this work, we successfully demonstrate a color-adjustable and conductive wearable optical–electronic skin (OE-skin) based on photonic crystal hydrogel that is capable of delivering both optical and electrical signal responses synchronously. The OE-skin is fabricated by incorporating a structural colored layer, composed of periodically aligned magnetic nanoparticles, into a polyacrylamide hydrogel matrix that contains tea polyphenols and borax. The dynamic boronate ester bonds formed between borax and the catechol groups of tea polyphenols are able to enhance the mechanical properties of the OE-skin, while also conferring excellent electrical conductivity, high sensitivity, and a rapid electrical response. Additionally, the tea polyphenols, which are natural active compounds derived from tea, possess diverse bioactive properties, thereby endowing the OE-skin with excellent antibacterial and biocompatibility characteristics. In addition, the developed electronic skin successfully demonstrates its capability in synergistic electronic and optical sensing during human motion monitoring, indicating broad application prospects in the field of smart wearable sensors.
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issn 2079-6374
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Biosensors
spelling doaj-art-fa73e18cd9484bd3b2b328e74dfeecaa2025-08-20T03:14:32ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742025-04-0115528110.3390/bios15050281Optical–Electronic Skin Based on Tea Polyphenol for Dual Signal Wearable SensingJia-Li Xu0Guangyao Zhao1Jiachen Wang2An Tang3Jun-Tao Liu4Zhijie Zhu5Qiang Zhang6Yu Tian7School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Surface & Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Surface & Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Surface & Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, ChinaJiangsu Advanced Textile Engineering Technology Center, Jiangsu College of Engineering and Technology, Nantong 226007, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, ChinaSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Surface & Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, ChinaThe rapid development of smart electronic skin has led researchers to design a variety of flexible and stretchable devices that can be used to monitor physiological and environmental signals. In this work, we successfully demonstrate a color-adjustable and conductive wearable optical–electronic skin (OE-skin) based on photonic crystal hydrogel that is capable of delivering both optical and electrical signal responses synchronously. The OE-skin is fabricated by incorporating a structural colored layer, composed of periodically aligned magnetic nanoparticles, into a polyacrylamide hydrogel matrix that contains tea polyphenols and borax. The dynamic boronate ester bonds formed between borax and the catechol groups of tea polyphenols are able to enhance the mechanical properties of the OE-skin, while also conferring excellent electrical conductivity, high sensitivity, and a rapid electrical response. Additionally, the tea polyphenols, which are natural active compounds derived from tea, possess diverse bioactive properties, thereby endowing the OE-skin with excellent antibacterial and biocompatibility characteristics. In addition, the developed electronic skin successfully demonstrates its capability in synergistic electronic and optical sensing during human motion monitoring, indicating broad application prospects in the field of smart wearable sensors.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/281optical–electronic skinstructural colordual-signal outputdynamic boronate ester bonds
spellingShingle Jia-Li Xu
Guangyao Zhao
Jiachen Wang
An Tang
Jun-Tao Liu
Zhijie Zhu
Qiang Zhang
Yu Tian
Optical–Electronic Skin Based on Tea Polyphenol for Dual Signal Wearable Sensing
Biosensors
optical–electronic skin
structural color
dual-signal output
dynamic boronate ester bonds
title Optical–Electronic Skin Based on Tea Polyphenol for Dual Signal Wearable Sensing
title_full Optical–Electronic Skin Based on Tea Polyphenol for Dual Signal Wearable Sensing
title_fullStr Optical–Electronic Skin Based on Tea Polyphenol for Dual Signal Wearable Sensing
title_full_unstemmed Optical–Electronic Skin Based on Tea Polyphenol for Dual Signal Wearable Sensing
title_short Optical–Electronic Skin Based on Tea Polyphenol for Dual Signal Wearable Sensing
title_sort optical electronic skin based on tea polyphenol for dual signal wearable sensing
topic optical–electronic skin
structural color
dual-signal output
dynamic boronate ester bonds
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/5/281
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