Smart OLED Tattoos With Sweat Sensor, Other Health Monitoring Features In The Works

Advancements in technology may soon pave the way for a new type of body modification. Scientists at the Italian Institute of Technology and University College London (UCL) are exploring new applications for organic light-emitting diodes (OLED). Their latest project involves the use of smart tattoos.

With the help of conductive circuits and cutting-edge sensors, the team hopes to integrate what they refer to as a “light-up tattoo” system on more than just the human body. One example that was provided involves medical devices to monitor metabolic functions that can change color based on specific parameters.

Another would be a cutting-edge computer interface that uses touch-based inputs. With the help of high-tech engineering methods, the scientists have crafted a 76-nanometer electroluminescent polymer that lights up when an electric charge is introduced, SYFY WIRE reports.

What they did next was to add insulated electrodes before the unit was affixed to a medium. The material used is what the industry refers to as a commercial transfer paper. All that is needed to apply the 2.3-micrometer-thick OLED tattoo “on virtually any surface” is a bit of water and direct pressure.

“The tattooable OLEDs that we have demonstrated for the first time can be made at scale and very cheaply, said study senior author professor Franco Cacialli. “They can be combined with other forms of tattoo electronics for a very wide range of possible uses.”

He notes that the technology can be used for visual notifications when combined with certain health-related platforms. Possible usage involves sweat sensors that can alert the patient if they are close to dehydration or light up, depending on their condition.

A section in the abstract of the scientists’ research paper published on the Wiley Online Library read: “While the performance of such devices is not yet comparable with that of OLEDs on rigid or flexible non‐tattooable substrates, the results show the potential for an OLED tattoo technology in integrated conformable electronic circuits.”

There are still improvements to be made before the smart OLED tattoos become commercially viable in various industries. Perhaps the biggest hurdle right now is developing a reliable power source to keep the system operational.