An integrated sensing and communication solar skin for health monitoring and human–machine interaction

Wearable electronic systems have garnered significant interest due to their potential in real-time health monitoring, human–machine interaction, and smart infrastructures. Most existing platforms face challenges in power sustainability, sensor bulkiness, and limited multifunctionality. Ultraflexible organic solar cells (OSCs), known for their lightweight nature and self-powered capabilities, have emerged as promising candidates for addressing these issues. Yet, current ultraflexible OSC-based devices are often limited to single functionalities with inadequate system integration and poor adaptability to complex, dynamic scenarios. Here, we present an integrated wearable solar e-skin system that combines multimodal sensing, energy harvesting, and optical wireless communication (OWC) into a single ultrathin and mechanically robust platform. Leveraging the designed ultraflexible structure and high performance of OSCs, the system enables continuous physiological monitoring, precise gesture and activity recognition, and reliable optical data transmission. By mimicking biological sensory pathways for localized signal processing and energy-efficient operation, the platform achieves enhanced functionality and reliability. Demonstrations include accurate heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, robust motion recognition with >97% accuracy, and secure OWC. This work provides a scalable and practical solution for next-generation wearable systems, offering potential in healthcare, industrial safety, and human–machine interaction.