Energy Autonomous Sweat‐Based Wearable Systems. Issue 35 (11th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Manjakkal, Libu; Yin, Lu; Nathan, Arokia; Wang, Joseph; Dahiya, Ravinder
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials. Volume 33:Issue 35(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-07-11
• Subjects: biofuel cells -- energy autonomy -- supercapacitors -- sweat‐based energy systems -- wearable electronics; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202100899
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0935-9648

Abstract

Abstract: The continuous operation of wearable electronics demands reliable sources of energy, currently met through Li‐ion batteries and various energy harvesters. These solutions are being used out of necessity despite potential safety issues and unsustainable environmental impact. Safe and sustainable energy sources can boost the use of wearables systems in diverse applications such as health monitoring, prosthetics, and sports. In this regard, sweat‐ and sweat‐equivalent‐based studies have attracted tremendous attention through the demonstration of energy‐generating biofuel cells, promising power densities as high as 3.5 mW cm −2, storage using sweat‐electrolyte‐based supercapacitors with energy and power densities of 1.36 Wh kg −1 and 329.70 W kg −1, respectively, and sweat‐activated batteries with an impressive energy density of 67 Ah kg −1 . A combination of these energy generating, and storage devices can lead to fully energy‐autonomous wearables capable of providing sustainable power in the µW to mW range, which is sufficient to operate both sensing and communication devices. Here, a comprehensive review covering these advances, addressing future challenges and potential solutions related to fully energy‐autonomous wearables is presented, with emphasis on sweat‐based energy storage and energy generation elements along with sweat‐based sensors as applications. Abstract : Sweat‐based energy harvesting and storage devices, along with the key components of sweat‐based energy autonomous wearables systems are comprehensively reviewed. Various considerations such as the power management and the sweat extraction, etc., are discussed for continuous operation of sweat‐based systems.