Organic Photovoltaics: Toward Self-Powered Wearable Electronics

In the past several years, research in soft and flexible electronics has promised to yield developments in wearable technology, including health and fitness monitoring tools, independence and mobility aids for the disabled, and human-computer interfaces for virtual and augmented reality. However, as these devices become thinner and lighter, they demand efficient power supplies with similar mechanical properties. Organic photovoltaics (OPVs)---known for their high flexibility, lightweight, and scalable fabrication methods--have recently attained power conversion efficiencies of over 17% and are excellent candidates to power these next-generation wearable devices. In this paper, we discuss recent developments in flexible OPVs, including advances in materials, structure, and integration with additional wearable components, such as sensors and displays. In addition, we describe our recent work in developing a self-powered actuator for a tactile feedback system.