Multifunctional E-Tattoos Based on Electrospun PVBVA Fibers Coated with Ti₃C₂T_x MXene for Energy Harvesting, Energy Storage, and Biometric Sensing

Ajay Pratap¹, Fereshteh Rajabi Kouchi¹, Tony Valayil-Varghese^{1

2}, Hailey Burgoyne^{1

2}, Attila Rektor¹, Michael Curtis¹, Miranda Lea Nelson³, Francis N Mokogwu⁴, Corey M Efaw^{1

2}, Josh Eixenberger^{2

5

6}, Allyssa Bateman^{1

2

6}, Benjamin C Johnson⁴, Brian Jaques^{1

2

6}, Zhangxian Deng^{6

7}, Kurtis Cantley⁴, Christopher E Shuck⁸, David Estrada^{1

2

6

9}

Affiliations

¹ Micron School of Material Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
² Micron Center for Materials Research, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
³ Biomedical Engineering Doctoral Program, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
⁴ Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
⁵ Department of Physics, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
⁶ Center for Advanced Energy Studies, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
⁷ Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
⁸ Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
⁹ Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID, 83415, USA.

PMID: 41355153
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202518697

Multifunctional E-Tattoos Based on Electrospun PVBVA Fibers Coated with Ti₃C₂T_x MXene for Energy Harvesting, Energy Storage, and Biometric Sensing

Ajay Pratap et al. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2025.

. 2025 Dec 7:e18697.

doi: 10.1002/advs.202518697. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Micron School of Material Science and Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
² Micron Center for Materials Research, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
³ Biomedical Engineering Doctoral Program, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
⁴ Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
⁵ Department of Physics, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
⁶ Center for Advanced Energy Studies, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
⁷ Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
⁸ Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
⁹ Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID, 83415, USA.

PMID: 41355153
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202518697

Abstract

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 (Ti₃C₂T_x) MXene. A single electrode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) was fabricated via a layer-by-layer method using a PVBVA/Ti₃C₂T_x/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^- ² (25 µW cm^- ²) under a 2 MΩ load, enabling triboelectric energy harvesting from human motion. A parallel-plate capacitor using PVBVA/Ti₃C₂T_x 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.

Keywords: E‐tattoo; MXene; electrospinning; energy harvesting; energy‐storage.

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References

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Multifunctional E-Tattoos Based on Electrospun PVBVA Fibers Coated with Ti₃C₂T_x MXene for Energy Harvesting, Energy Storage, and Biometric Sensing

Affiliations

Multifunctional E-Tattoos Based on Electrospun PVBVA Fibers Coated with Ti₃C₂T_x MXene for Energy Harvesting, Energy Storage, and Biometric Sensing

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

References

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