As the Internet of Things (IoT) is taking shape, the number of connected objects will grow at explosive
rates, enabled by efficient networks, deep learning software and embedded technology. For this to be
possible, a paradigm shift for the embedded technology from current approaches based on rigid
sensors and silicon-based electronics with batteries as power sources is urgently required. In the future,
IoT objects will have to be extremely low cost, low-power and even self-sustaining, flexible and thin in
order to be unobtrusive. One of the key elements of the embedded technology are sensors, they are
requested to precisely register multiple parameters for continuous monitoring of the objects inner
state and the environmental conditions.
A very promising group of materials which have already shown their great potential to support the way
towards IoT are ferroelectric polymers. Their intrinsic piezoelectric properties enable multimodal
dynamic sensing of mechanical parameters like strain, force, touch, pressure, vibrations and motion.
Another big advantage is that they can be fabricated on flexible, even stretchable substrates by low-
cost and scalable printing techniques, thus they have attracted considerable attention due to their
potential applications in healthcare. When it comes to use these ferroelectric materials in biomedical
sensor applications, high conformity to the body surface and ultra-sensitive response to pressure and
strain levels with large signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are essential to monitor vital parameters during
various physical activities without obstructing the user. Here, flexible organic amplifiers are an
appropriate candidate for improving the SNR and can be easily combined with the sensors to be
conformably attached to the humans body, enabling a direct amplification near the signal edge.
The aim of this project is the fabrication of innovative ferroelectric polymer based transducer devices
and organic amplifiers, both with high resolution solution-based processes scalable to large areas. The
transducers should be fully transparent with multimodal sensing capabilities, realized by a smart
arrangement of the electrodes. Finally, to test the potential of the transducers and amplifiers, a
wireless medical sensor patch should be fabricated. For this purpose, the flexible multimodal
transducers and the ultra-flexible organic amplifiers will be assembled with a compact, lightweight (5,5
g), wireless data processing unit on a biocompatible substrate. This conformable wireless medical
diagnostic sensor patch with high wearing comfort will be tested to monitor vital parameters such as
heart rate, blood pressure and respiration rate. This developed sensor technology should pave the way
towards a new home medical diagnosis capable of early detection of lifestyle-related diseases such as
heart disease, signs of stress state, sleep apnea syndrome and many others.