Ultra-Thin GaAs Single-Junction Solar Cells for Self-Powered Skin-Compatible Electrocardiogram Sensors

GaAs thin-film solar cells have high efficiency, reliability, and operational stability, making them a promising solution for self-powered skin-conformal biosensors. However, inherent device thickness limits suitability for such applications, making them uncomfortable and unreliable in flexural environments. Therefore, reducing the flexural rigidity becomes crucial for integration with skin-compatible electronic devices. Herein, this study demonstrated a novel one-step surface modification bonding methodology, allowing a streamlined transfer process of ultra-thin (2.3 mu m thick) GaAs solar cells on flexible polymer substrates. This reproducible technique enables strong bonding between dissimilar materials (GaAs-polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS) without high external pressures and temperatures. The fabricated solar cell showed exceptional performance with an open-circuit voltage of 1.018 V, short-circuit current density of 20.641 mA cm-2, fill factor of 79.83%, and power conversion efficiency of 16.77%. To prove the concept, the solar cell is integrated with a skin-compatible organic electrochemical transistor (OECT). Competitive electrical outputs of GaAs solar cells enabled high current levels of OECT under subtle light intensities lower than 50 mW cm-2, which demonstrates a self-powered electrocardiogram sensor with low noise (signal-to-noise ratio of 32.68 dB). Overall, this study presents a promising solution for the development of free-form and comfortable device structures that can continuously power wearable devices and biosensors. A 2.3-mu m-thick flexible GaAs solar cell demonstrates reliable operation under mechanical stress through a novel surface modification bonding process that strongly adheres to a thin PDMS substrate, exhibiting exceptional performance (Voc:1.018 V, Jsc:20.641 mA cm-2, FF:79.83%, PCE: 16.77%). As a proof-of-concept, integrating the solar cell with an organic electrochemical transistor has created a self-powered ECG sensor with a high SNR of 32.68 dB. image