Skin-conformable Printed Supercapacitors and Their Performance in Wear
Railanmaa, A., Soltani, A., Lehtimäki, S. et al.
In this publication we examine the manufacturing of skin-conformable supercapacitors and their durability in everyday use. Increasing interest has been targeted at various patch-type epidermal electronic devices both for monitoring and as actuators. However, these devices are only viable if they can be combined with a mutually epidermally compatible energy storage option, for which supercapacitors offer a safe and reliable alternative. Printed supercapacitors manufactured from non-toxic materials were tested on skin for their electrical performance and monitored for 24h for any degradation in properties. The compatibility and comfort of wear was additionally assessed with Digital Image Correlation, which allows for contactless monitoring of material deformation during movement. Based on the findings, printed supercapacitors offer a promising alternative for energy storage in integrated printed epidermal electronic systems.