UC Berkeley

Organic electronics have gained popularity due to their potential to revolutionize electronic technologies with improved performance, low cost, and unique applications in flexible and wearable systems. A significant advantage of organic electronics is their solution solubility, which enables cost-effective and additive printing processes, reducing material waste and facilitating large-area manufacturing. This thesis will present work towards developing eco- friendly and scalable organic optoelectronic sensors. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic photodiodes (OPDs) are demonstrated as photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors, representing steps toward lightweight and flexible pulse oximeters. A scalable blade coating method is used to simultaneously print OLEDs and OPDs on a single substrate, simplifying fabrication while maintaining device performance of both devices. Finally, solution and film optimizations are used to replace toxic solvents with a greener solvent in organic photovoltaics (OPVs), demonstrating critical steps towards eco-friendly fabrication of organic electronics.