Inkjet-Printed Wearable Nanosystems for Self-Powered Technologies

The scalable production of nanomaterials-based electronic components with mechanically compliable form factors not only provides interesting research topics but also ushers in exciting opportunities for wearable applications in consumer electronics, healthcare, human-machine interface, etc. Wearable nanosystems consist of components such as thin-film transistors, flexible sensors, energy harvesters, and energy storage devices. Despite the increased interests and efforts in nanotechnology-enabled wearables, reducing the manufacturing and assembly costs while improving the performance at the device and system level remains a major technological challenge. The inkjet printing process has emerged as a potential economic method for nanomanufacturing functional devices. Here, the authors review the recent advances in inkjet-printed wearable nanodevices and provide an in-depth discussion focusing on the materials, manufacturing process, integration, performance issues, and potential applications for inkjet-printed self-powered wearable devices. The authors compile a comprehensive list of the reported flexible devices with the corresponding materials employed. Finally, they discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with related topics.