Focused Session Invited Speakers

Biocompatible, biodegradable, and solid-state electrolyte-based organic electrochemical transistors are demonstrated. As the electrolyte is composed of all edible-level materials, which are levan polysaccharide and choline-based ionic liquid, the organic transistor fabricated on the electrolyte can be biocompatible and biodegrable. [1] Compared to the other ion gel-based electrolytes, it has superior electrical and mechanical properties, large specific capacitance (≈40 µF cm−2), non-volatility, flexibility, and high transparency. 

Nature has provided endless sources and inspiration for engineering. The diverse environment has promoted various functional systems and the long-term natural selection has continued to choose the best. Learning from nature can therefore be a shortcut to improve our existing systems.

The use of bioelectronic devices for acquiring biological information and delivering therapeutic interventions relies on direct contact with soft bio-tissues. To ensure high-quality signal transductions, the interfaces between bioelectronic devices and bio-tissues must have the highest contact area and long-term stability. 

Organic photodetectors (OPDs) are a promising alternative optical detecting technology to conventional wafer-based inorganic counterparts, because the optical and electric properties of the organic semiconductor materials can be tailored accordingly. They offer additional advantages such as having a solution-processable fabrication process, which also leads to significant cost benefits, thereby creating next-generation solution-processable, flexible, and low-cost photodetectors. In general, the spectral responses of the photodetectors are determined by the absorption of the active materials and optical profile in the devices. Single-band OPDs optimized for photodetection at specific spectral ranges have been reported. However, the reports on OPDs for multispectral detection are rather rare. It is a great challenge to achieve high-performance multispectral OPDs. 

The rise of Internet of Things (IoTs), with 30 billion devices to be installed by 2030, is underpinning disruptive technologies such as smart wearables, self-driving vehicles, industrial automation and digital health. Conventional IoT power sources are dominated by Li ion batteries, but one trillion IoT devices will consume 100,000 tonnes of lithium, and regular battery replacement for billions of IoT devices is economically unfeasible.