Multifunctional E‐Tattoos Based on Electrospun PVBVA Fibers Coated with Ti <sub>3</sub> C <sub>2</sub> T <i> <sub>x</sub> </i> MXene for Energy Harvesting, Energy Storage, and Biometric Sensing
Multifunctional electronic tattoos (e-tattoos) integrating energy harvesting, charge storage, and biosignal monitoring are critical for advancing wearable electronics. Most current technologies specialize in one or two functions, lacking a unified, skin-compatible solution. A novel e-tattoo is reported using electrospun poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) (PVBVA) fibers coated with titanium carbide (Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub>) MXene. A single electrode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) was fabricated via a layer-by-layer method using a PVBVA/Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub>/PVBVA (PMxP) sandwich structure, and achieved an open-circuit voltage of 250 V, short-circuit current of 2.9 µA, and power density of 250 mW m<sup>-</sup> <sup>2</sup> (25 µW cm<sup>-</sup> <sup>2</sup>) under a 2 MΩ load, enabling triboelectric energy harvesting from human motion. A parallel-plate capacitor using PVBVA/Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub>x</sub> electrodes and a PVBVA dielectric exhibited 14 pF capacitance at 10 kHz and 5 V, suitable for low-power touch-sensitive applications. Additionally, PMx-based e-tattoos captured real-time electrocadiogram (ECG) and electromyography (EMG) signals with high skin conformability and minimal signal degradation. The device maintains mechanical flexibility, biocompatibility, and adhesion over extended wear. This scalable, non-invasive platform demonstrates robust multifunctionality and durability, offering a promising route toward integrated, self-powered wearable systems for health monitoring, human-machine interfaces, and energy autonomy. The PMxP architecture represents a significant step toward all-in-one e-tattoos that meet the demands of next-generation electronics.
Authors
- Fereshteh Rajabi Kouchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5154-1443)
- Zhangxian Deng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1084-1738)
- Josh Eixenberger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9816-7268)
- Ajay Pratap
- Tony Valayil Varghese (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3251-8395)
- Brian J. Jaques (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5324-555X)
- Miranda L. Nelson
- Christopher E. Shuck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1274-8484)
- Francis Mokogwu
- M. David Curtis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1814-0867)
- Allyssa Bateman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5097-2487)
- Benjamin C. Johnson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3629-0284)
- David Estrada (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5894-0773)
- Corey M. Efaw (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8996-0224)
- Kurtis D. Cantley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0254-4346)
- Attila Rektor
- Hailey Burgoyne
Institutions
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Micron (United States) (US)
- Boise State University (US)
- Idaho National Laboratory (US)
- Center for Advanced Energy Studies (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Science
- Published
- 2025-12-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202518697
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.35
Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
- Micron Foundation
- Boise State University
- Nuclear Safety and Security Commission
- National Institutes of Health
- Idaho Operations Office, U.S. Department of Energy
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences
- Office of Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research