The term “epidermal electronics”, refers to those electronic devices that can conformably adhere to the skin, providing versatile means to acquire information about the body through the monitoring of biologically relevant chemical and physical variables, and to provide feedback/control in prosthetic applications and human-computer interfaces. Our approach to epidermal electronics is based on organic electronics technologies trough the development of free-standing conformable circuits made of ultra-thin films of conjugated polymers, directly transferrable on skin (“tattoo electronics”) or other complex surfaces. Possible future applications include: personal unperceivable healthcare monitoring devices, active tattoo (e.g., for sport, UV skin monitoring etc.), as well as electrically controllable drug delivery systems.
Selected Publications
F. A. Viola, J. Barsotti, F. Melloni, G. Lanzani, Y.-H. Kim, V. Mattoli and M. Caironi, A sub 150 nanometers thick and ultra-conformable solution processed all-organic transistor. Nature Communication, 12: 5842 (2021)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26120-2
S. Taccola, A. Poliziani, D. Santonocito, A. Mondini, C. Denk, A. N. Ide, M. Oberparleiter, F. Greco, V. Mattoli, Toward the use of temporary tattoo electrodes for impedancemetric respiration monitoring and other electrophysiological recordings on skin, MDPI Sensors, 21(4): 1197 (2021)
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s21041197
J. Barsotti, A. G. Rapidis, I. Hirata, F. Greco, F. Cacialli, Virgilio Mattoli, Ultrathin, ultra-conformable and free-standing tattoo-like organic light emitting diode. Advanced Electronics Materials, 7(3): 2001145 (2021)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202001145
L. Ferrari, S. Sudha, S. Tarantino, R. Esposti, F. Bolzoni, P. Cavallari, C. Cipriani, V. Mattoli, F. Greco, Ultraconformable temporary-tattoo electrodes for electrophysiology, Advanced Science, 5(3): 1700771 (2018)
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.201700771
J. Barsotti, I. Hirata, F. Pignatelli, M. Caironi, F. Greco, V. Mattoli, Ultra-Conformable Free-Standing Capacitors Based on Ultrathin Polyvinyl Formal Films, Advanced Electronics Materials, 4(11): 1800215 (2018)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aelm.201800215
A. Zucca, C. Cipriani, Sudha, S. Tarantino, D. Ricci, V. Mattoli, F. Greco, Tattoo conductive polymer nanosheets for skin-contact electronics applications, Advanced Healthcare Materials, 4(7): 983–990 (2015)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201400761
In the last twenty years, micro-devices such as Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) produced a great impact on several areas, thanks to the development of important technological applications ranging from automotive and consumer electronics to biology, medicine and energy. The performances of such systems rely on both the design and the intrinsic properties of the constituent materials, that have to be processed with sub-micron resolution, high precision and reproducibility. Two photon lithography, which enables the realization of outstanding three-dimensional structures with nanoscale features, can be a key technology toward the direct fabrication of more complex micro-devices. In this perspectives we are investigating new materials and approaches that will make possible direct fabrication of functional surfaces and 3D micro-structures, also integrating conformal metal paths, toward a seamless integration with standard silicon electronics. In parallel, other more traditional 2D/2.5D addictive (e.g. inkjet printing) and subtractive (e.g. laser cutting/engraving) technologies are also investigated as complementary approaches, toward the realization of mini/micro soft actuators and sensors.
Selected Publications
M. Carlotti, O. Tricinci, V. Mattoli, Novel, High-Resolution, Subtractive Photoresist Formulations for 3D Direct Laser Writing based on Cyclic Ketene Acetals, Advanced Materials Technologies, On line (2022)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/admt.202101590
M. Carlotti, I. Cesini, V. Mattoli, A Simple Approach for Flexible and Stretchable Anti-icing Lubricant-Infused Tape, ACS Applied Materials Interfaces, 13(37): 45105–45115 (2021)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c15634
M. Carlotti, V. Mattoli, Functional Materials for Multi-Photons Polymerization in Microfabrication, Small, 15(40):1902687 (2019)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smll.201902687
O. Tricinci, E. V. Eason, C. Filippeschi, A. Mondini, B. Mazzolai, N. M. Pugno, M. R. Cutkosky, F. Greco, V. Mattoli, Approximating Gecko Setae via Direct Laser Lithography, Smart Materials and Structures, 27(7) 075009 (2018)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1361-665X/aa9e5f
O. Tricinci, T. Terencio, B. Mazzolai, N. Pugno, F. Greco, V. Mattoli, 3D Micropatterned Surface Inspired by Salvinia molesta via Direct Laser Lithography. ACS Applied Materials Interfaces, 7(46): 25560−25567 (2015)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5b07722
S. Taccola, F. Greco, E. Sinibaldi, A. Mondini, B. Mazzolai and V. Mattoli, Toward a new generation of electrically controllable hygromorphic soft actuators, Advanced Materials, 27(10): 1668-1675 (2015)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.201404772
