Transparent Electronics for Wearable Electronics Application

Abstract

Recent advancements in wearable electronics offer seamlessintegrationwith the human body for extracting various biophysical and biochemicalinformation for real-time health monitoring, clinical diagnostics,and augmented reality. Enormous efforts have been dedicated to impartingstretchability/flexibility and softness to electronic devices throughmaterials science and structural modifications that enable stableand comfortable integration of these devices with the curvilinearand soft human body. However, the optical properties of these devicesare still in the early stages of consideration. By incorporating transparency,visual information from interfacing biological systems can be preservedand utilized for comprehensive clinical diagnosis with image analysistechniques. Additionally, transparency provides optical imperceptibility,alleviating reluctance to wear the device on exposed skin. This reviewdiscusses the recent advancement of transparent wearable electronicsin a comprehensive way that includes materials, processing, devices,and applications. Materials for transparent wearable electronics arediscussed regarding their characteristics, synthesis, and engineeringstrategies for property enhancements. We also examine bridging techniquesfor stable integration with the soft human body. Building blocks forwearable electronic systems, including sensors, energy devices, actuators,and displays, are discussed with their mechanisms and performances.Lastly, we summarize the potential applications and conclude withthe remaining challenges and prospects.