Soft, ultra-thin electronics based on freestanding polymer films enable seamless integration with complex surfaces such as human skin, supporting applications like imperceptible health monitoring and skin-conformal interfaces. Over the past decade, our group has explored their use in sensing and actuation. Conductive nanofilms, applied as temporary tattoos, provide excellent conformal adhesion and have proven effective as dry electrodes for surface electromyography (sEMG), demonstrating strong potential for physiological monitoring and human–machine interaction. Beyond sensing, conformable electronics can also stimulate the skin to elicit tactile sensations. Using localized electro-thermo-pneumatic transduction, we have developed ultra-thin tattoo devices capable of generating perceptible tactile feedback, pointing toward wearable tactile displays fabricated with inkjet printing and standard materials.
Moreover, integrating this platform with two-photon lithography (2PL) enables direct fabrication of intricate 3D microstructures with sub-micron resolution on ultrathin substrates. This approach merges high-resolution additive manufacturing with versatile functionality for micro-mechanical, photonic, and biomedical applications. In this talk, we present results from the EU-funded 5D NanoPrinting and IV-Lab projects, including conformal sensors and devices realized through ultrathin films, inkjet-printed functional materials, and two-photon polymerization. Additional techniques such as self-shadowing and 3D lift-off lithography allow metallic interconnections on complex geometries, while scalable transfer methods extend 2PL-fabricated components to diverse surfaces. Together, these advances pave the way for soft MEMS that combine the adaptability of tattoo electronics with the structural complexity and functional sophistication of 3D microdevices.
Virgilio Mattoli received his Laurea degree in chemistry (with honours) from the University of Pisa and the Diploma in Chemistry from the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa in 2000. In 2005 he received his PhD in bio-engineering (with honours) from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, with a thesis focused on the control and integration of miniaturized devices for environmental application. In summer 2004 he was visiting researcher at the University of Stanford, Center for Design Research, where he focused his activity on sensors and controls modules for biomimetic robotics applications. In 2005 and 2008 he was a short term visiting researcher at Waseda University (Tokyo, Japan) working on a bio-inspired mini-robot and on development of ultra-conformable polymeric films. From June 2008 to October 2009 he obtained a temporary position of Assistant Professor of bioengineer engineering at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (SSSA). From November 2009 to July 2015, he has been a Team Leader of the Smart Materials Platform in the Center for Micro-BioRobotics of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT). In August 2015, he obtained a permanent position as Senior Researcher Technologist at the same center. His main research interests include: smart nano- and bio-inspired materials, micro/nano-fabrication, soft/tattoo electronics, sensors, and biorobotics. He is currently involved in several research projects on these topics, including the EU EIC Projects 5D NanoPrinting and IV-Lab, of which he is the coordinator. He is author or co-author of more than hundred eighty articles on international journals, of more about fifty invited talks, and of several conferences communications, proceedings and deposited patents.
Soft, ultra-thin electronics based on freestanding polymer films enable seamless integration with complex surfaces such as human skin, supporting applications like imperceptible health monitoring and skin-conformal interfaces. Over the past decade, our group has explored their use in sensing and actuation. Conductive nanofilms, applied as temporary tattoos, provide excellent conformal adhesion and have proven effective as dry electrodes for surface electromyography (sEMG), demonstrating strong potential for physiological monitoring and human–machine interaction. Beyond sensing, conformable electronics can also stimulate the skin to elicit tactile sensations. Using localized electro-thermo-pneumatic transduction, we have developed ultra-thin tattoo devices capable of generating perceptible tactile feedback, pointing toward wearable tactile displays fabricated with inkjet printing and standard materials.
Moreover, integrating this platform with two-photon lithography (2PL) enables direct fabrication of intricate 3D microstructures with sub-micron resolution on ultrathin substrates. This approach merges high-resolution additive manufacturing with versatile functionality for micro-mechanical, photonic, and biomedical applications. In this talk, we present results from the EU-funded 5D NanoPrinting and IV-Lab projects, including conformal sensors and devices realized through ultrathin films, inkjet-printed functional materials, and two-photon polymerization. Additional techniques such as self-shadowing and 3D lift-off lithography allow metallic interconnections on complex geometries, while scalable transfer methods extend 2PL-fabricated components to diverse surfaces. Together, these advances pave the way for soft MEMS that combine the adaptability of tattoo electronics with the structural complexity and functional sophistication of 3D microdevices.
Virgilio Mattoli received his Laurea degree in chemistry (with honours) from the University of Pisa and the Diploma in Chemistry from the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa in 2000. In 2005 he received his PhD in bio-engineering (with honours) from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, with a thesis focused on the control and integration of miniaturized devices for environmental application. In summer 2004 he was visiting researcher at the University of Stanford, Center for Design Research, where he focused his activity on sensors and controls modules for biomimetic robotics applications. In 2005 and 2008 he was a short term visiting researcher at Waseda University (Tokyo, Japan) working on a bio-inspired mini-robot and on development of ultra-conformable polymeric films. From June 2008 to October 2009 he obtained a temporary position of Assistant Professor of bioengineer engineering at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (SSSA). From November 2009 to July 2015, he has been a Team Leader of the Smart Materials Platform in the Center for Micro-BioRobotics of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT). In August 2015, he obtained a permanent position as Senior Researcher Technologist at the same center. His main research interests include: smart nano- and bio-inspired materials, micro/nano-fabrication, soft/tattoo electronics, sensors, and biorobotics. He is currently involved in several research projects on these topics, including the EU EIC Projects 5D NanoPrinting and IV-Lab, of which he is the coordinator. He is author or co-author of more than hundred eighty articles on international journals, of more about fifty invited talks, and of several conferences communications, proceedings and deposited patents.
