Collaborative research by PolyU (Prof. Wai-Yeung Wong and Dr Peng Tao) and Yonsei University (Prof. Sang-Woo Kim) was published on 14 August 2026 in the prestigious journal Nature Nanotechnology under the title “Bioresorbable and optically readable triboelectric implants enabled by nanoscale iridophosphors”.
This paper reports a battery-free, bioresorbable triboelectric implant that enables externally readable, on-demand visualization of device status while generating electrical output. The team developed a data-driven materials-to-device approach, combining machine-learning-assisted photophysical screening to identify nanoscale iridium(III) complexes for optical reporting and triboelectric charge generation. This breakthrough could lead to safer, easier-to-monitor bioelectronic implants and facilitate timely medical intervention.
Nature Nanotechnology is a leading journal publishing high-impact research across all areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology.
Read the full article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-026-02256-4
