Solution-processable and photo-curable system for low-cost and scalable transient electronics

Abstract

The discovery of non-toxic, bioresorbable silicon electronics is a major breakthrough in the fields of transient, dissolvable biomedical implants and environmental monitors, as it opens up the possibility of producing versatile components based on established semiconductor processes. However, given the limited lifespan of such electronics, it is essential to consider economical manufacturing and production strategies that reduce the unit price for commercialization. Here, we introduce a solution-processable and photo-patternable approach that is facile, cost-effective, and widely accessible for a monolithic 3D fabrication of soft, stretchable, and transient electronics. Optimized chemical synthesis and rational materials engineering yield biodegradable/biocompatible organic insulators, semiconductors, and conductors that can be layered/assembled in sophisticated configurations without impairing underlying components. Direct solution-casting of the materials enables the fabrication of sensors with various modalities and transistors. In vivo implantation of soft, conformable electrode arrays into the brain and heart of animal models demonstrates spatiotemporal electrophysiological monitoring (electroencephalography and electrocardiography) and therapeutic interventions (epileptic seizure suppression and cardiac pacing), highlighting the broad applicability in diverse bio-integrated electronic systems.