Biodegradable Temperature Sensor enabled using Printed Electronics

Printed electronics are considered the future of manufacturing electronic devices due to their cost-effectiveness, speed, and customizability compared to traditional methods using silicon. As medical electronics usage increases, there’s a growing concern about safely disposing of electronic waste without harming the environment, especially since many of these devices are single-use. Researchers are focusing on developing conductive materials that are non-toxic and biodegradable. In this study we demonstrate the effectiveness of a fully-biodegradable temperature sensor patch. The patch was made using a biodegradable, water-soluble substrate consisting of 3% PVA films. Ink deposition is achieved using the inkjet method. The resulting sensor is flexible, bendable, and suitable for use as an e-skin patch. Here, two different conductive materials such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and silver have been used as an active layer. The resultant sensor performance and their corresponding biodegradability studies have been studied and compared thoroughly. The fully-biodegradable PEDOT:PSS sensor exhibited good linearity in resistance measurements between 30–110 °C, with a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) value of 13.2×10
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C
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and a sensitivity of 85.85 Ω/°C.