Advanced flexible organic near-infrared photodetectors for sensing applications

Near-infrared (NIR) light has found extensive applications in night vision, biomedicine, optical communication, and particularly in non-invasive continuous monitoring of health conditions and object qualities due to its superior penetration capabilities. Organic electronic devices have emerged as a promising solution in the realm of non-invasive NIR detection, attributed to their inherent flexibility, stretchability, biocompatibility, ease of processing, cost-effectiveness, and lightweight nature. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the design strategies for multifunctional organic photodetectors (OPDs) and delves into their applications, prospects, and the challenges faced by flexible NIR OPDs in the next generation of wearable electronic devices with advanced human-computer interaction. We discuss the recent technological advancements and the potential of flexible NIR OPDs across a wide range of applications, including environmental pollution monitoring, bioimaging, curved image sensors, automotive systems, food quality assessment, health monitoring, and optical communication. • Cost-effective organic electronics for diverse applications. • NIR OPD tech boosts real-time health monitoring. • Miniaturized wearables enhance continuous health tracking. • Flexible organic devices solve adhesion and power issues. • Infrared-responsive organics advance non-invasive detection.