GIFT Minqiang Wang's team Publishes Cover Review in Chemical Reviews on Alternative Micro/Nanofabrication for Wearable Bioelectronics
On January 13, 2026, a research team led by Associate Professor Minqiang Wang from the Global Institute of Future Technology, SJTU, published a comprehensive review titled "Alternative Micro/Nanofabrication Approaches for Wearable Bioelectronics" as a cover article in the top-tier journal Chemical Reviews. The work systematically outlines recent advances in micro/nanofabrication technologies for wearable electronics, providing critical guidance for scalable production and clinical translation of next-generation flexible wearable devices.
As the key interfaces between the human body and the digital world, wearable electronics have shown immense potential in real-time physiological monitoring and personalized healthcare. However, manufacturing bottlenecks continue to hinder their widespread adoption. Current challenges include: 1) poor compatibility of conventional processes (e.g., photolithography and chemical vapor deposition) with flexible substrates and biocompatible materials due to reliance on high-temperature, high-vacuum environment and high costs; 2) a gap between novel materials and scalable fabrication—advanced nanomaterials like quantum dots and MXenes often lack matching, cost-effective manufacturing approaches; 3) high complexity in system integration. The integration of sensing, signal processing, wireless communication, and power modules remains difficult with traditional methods, often resulting in crosstalk and high power consumption. Additionally, demands for long-term wear comfort (e.g., breathability, stretchability) and clinical-grade accuracy further complicate manufacturing.
This review addresses the mismatch between traditional fabrication methods and the needs for flexibility, integration, and multifunctionality. Following a “materials–devices–applications” framework, the review covers traditional fabrication routes for wearable electronics, active sensing materials along with their synthesis strategies and key characteristics, the transduction mechanisms of human interface signals, the composition of core components, as well as the application and suitability of various micro/nanofabrication technologies across different scenarios. Drawing on main application scenarios, the paper outlines the limitations of traditional methods, such as photolithography and chemical vapor deposition (CVD), for integrating unconventional nanomaterials and controlling costs at scale. It proceeds to analyze five alternative approaches in depth: screen printing, roll-to-roll (R2R) processing, 3D printing, inkjet printing, and aerosol spray, focusing on their principles, key parameters, and representative cases in wearable biochemical, biophysical, electrophysiological, and multimodal sensing platforms.
The review highlights how these innovative technologies can enhance device performance, improve user experience, and facilitate commercialization. Future directions, such as material–process compatibility, high-throughput manufacturing, and long-term wear comfort, are also proposed. Overall, the paper not only maps the current technological landscape but also underscores the transformative potential of new fabrication paradigms for the future of wearable electronics.
Overview of alternative micro/nanofabrication approaches for wearable electronics
The first author of the review is Jianxin Zhang, a first-year Ph.D. student in Prof. Wang’s research team, with Associate Professor Minqiang Wang serving as the corresponding author. The work was supported by the Shanghai Pujiang Program.
Paper Link:
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5c00801
Author Profile
Jianxin Zhang
First-year Ph.D. student with Prof. Minqiang Wang’s research team at the Global Institute of Future Technology, SJTU. His research focuses on analytical chemistry, wearable electronics, and flexible energy devices. He has published as the first/corresponding author in journals including Chemical Reviews, Analytical Chemistry, Food Chemistry, and Electrochimica Acta.
Corresponding Author Profile
Minqiang Wang
Tenure-track Associate Professor and doctoral supervisor at the Global Institute of Future Technology, SJTU. Prof. Wang is named to the National Young Talents Program, Shanghai High-Level Young Talents Program, Shanghai Pujiang Talent Program, and the World's Top 2% Scientists. He is dedicated to research on the mechanisms, technologies, and applications of flexible wearable sweat-sensing electronics. His group focuses on flexible wearable bioelectronics for non-invasive molecular sensing and personalized health management. Prof. Wang has published over 60 SCI papers with more than 7,200 citations and an h-index of 40. He has authored/co-authored 20 papers in journals such as Nature Materials, Nature Biomedical Engineering, Nature Nanotechnology, Chemical Reviews, Advanced Materials, Trends in Chemistry, and Angewandte Chemie International Edition, and co-authored one English monograph. He serves on the editorial board of Discover Chemistry and as a youth editorial member for Med-X and VIEW. Advanced Powder Materials.
About Chemical Reviews
Founded in 1924 by the American Chemical Society, Chemical Reviews is a leading international journal in chemistry, publishing comprehensive, authoritative, and critical reviews, rather than original research papers. It covers traditional core areas, interdisciplinary fields, and emerging cross-disciplinary topics, offering researchers insights into recent advances and trends. Its 2024 impact factor is 55.8, with a five-year impact factor of 67.5, reflecting its significant academic influence.
