Optical-based stretchable multimodal sensors for detecting strain and light with periodic buckling structures.

Anda, Tomohiro; Ebihara, Yusuke; Koizumi, Mari; Yamagishi, Kento; Yokota, Tomoyuki; Someya, Takao · Sci Adv · 2026

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Stretchable optoelectronic sensors are essential for next-generation wearable health monitoring; however, a critical limitation remains unresolved. When a stretchable photodetector deforms, the effective light-detection location shifts across the skin surface, complicating the interpretation of spatially localized physiological signals. Herein, we report a periodic-buckling stretchable organic photodetector (OPD) that enables dual optical and strain sensing within a single device, allowing real-time estimation of changes in the effective detection position. The open-circuit voltage (<i>V</i><sub>oc</sub>) depends solely on light intensity, whereas the short-circuit current (<i>I</i><sub>sc</sub>) reflects both light intensity and variations in the active area, enabling geometric localization of the photodetection site. The OPD exhibits stable performance under applied strains of up to 60%, with variations in <i>V</i><sub>oc</sub> below 1.1% and a strain gauge factor of 0.44 derived from <i>I</i><sub>sc</sub>. This approach addresses a key limitation of stretchable photodetectors and provides a pathway toward high-resolution, position-aware wearable optical biosensing.