Photodetectors for measuring real-time optical irradiance

A photodetection system configured for removable attachment to human skin, the system comprising:

• a skin-wearable photodetector module, comprising:
• an array comprising a plurality of photodetectors and a plurality of optical filters, wherein each photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors is configured to receive an optical input from an environment via an optical filter of the plurality of optical filters having a central wavelength selected in a wavelength range of about 100 nm to about 1000 nm, and wherein each photodetector comprises:
• a substrate defining a first major surface and a second major surface, wherein the substrate comprises a polymeric material that is transparent to incident light with a wavelength of about 100 nm to about 1000 nm, and wherein the second major surface of the substrate is adjacent to a corresponding optical filter of the plurality of optical filters;
• a metal electrode overlying the first major surface of the substrate and comprising an interior region;
• an anode overlying the first major surface of the substrate and the interior region of the metal electrode, wherein the anode comprises a conducting or semiconducting polymer;
• a metal cathode;
• and
• an active layer between the anode and the metal cathode, wherein the active layer comprises a ternary mixture of a polymeric electron donor, a polymeric electron acceptor, and inorganic UV absorbing particles, and wherein the active layer comprises a ratio by weight, based on a total weight of the active layer, of:
• about 1.0 parts of polymeric electron donor:about 0.5 parts to about 1.5 parts of a polymeric primary electron acceptor:greater than about 0 parts and up to about 5 parts of inorganic UV absorbing particles;
• a connector circuit electrically coupled to the metal electrode;
• and
• an encapsulating layer encapsulating the plurality of photodetectors, the plurality of optical filters, and the connector circuit;
• a connector electrically coupled to the connector circuit;
• and
• a control console connected to the connector circuit, wherein the control console comprises a signal processing module, a data processing module, and a power supply.

A method for real-time monitoring of optical irradiance in situ on skin of a patient, the method comprising:

• applying a skin-wearable photodetector module to the skin of the patient, the photodetector module comprising:
• an array comprising a plurality of photodetectors and a plurality of optical filters, wherein each photodetector in the array of the plurality of photodetectors is configured to receive an optical input from an environment via an optical filter of the plurality of optical filters having a central wavelength selected in a wavelength range of about 100 nm to about 1000 nm, and wherein each photodetector in the array of photodetectors comprises:
• an active layer between a metal anode and a metal cathode, wherein the active layer comprises a ternary mixture of a polymeric electron donor, a polymeric electron acceptor, and a charge carrier trap material;
• and
• monitoring, with the photodetector module, irradiance on the skin of the patient to diagnose or treat a medical condition.