Skin-like flexible electronics (electronic skins) placed on human skin can be used for real-time measurement of the vital signs of the human body. Photonic sensors are a compelling alternative to electronic sensors owing to their small sizes, high sensitivity, high accuracy, large capabilities, and cost efficiency. Here we present a photonic skin primarily comprising waveguide Bragg gratings and a Mach–Zehnder modulator, enabling body temperature, blood glucose, and electrocardiogram measurements. A polymer-based photonic chip (1cm×0.45cm) was fabricated on polydimethylsiloxane using a mature process. A photonic chip and flexible signal-processing module were integrated with super-luminescent light-emitting-diode chips, photodetector arrays, and wireless communication circuits to create this photonic skin. The findings of this study demonstrate the applicability of the photonic skin in healthcare, offering insights into wearable optical sensing.
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