Next-generation tattoo-like-electronics with promising fabrication and wider application scenarios

•Self-powering and substrate-free emerging tattoo-like electronics are reviewed and summarized symmetrically.•Fabrication methods from traditional to additive manufacturing are discussed in detail, especially explaining the direct printing technology and its requirements.•Wider application scenarios of tattoo-like-electronics are also explored and prospected for bio-machine interactions.•The potential of tattoo-like-electronics for marine life monitoring is also briefly explained. Tattoo-like electronics heralds the amalgamation of electronics with the human body, representing a breakthrough in healthcare by empowering continuous monitoring and neural interfaces. The current focus in the development of tattoo-like electronics is the fabrication of self-powering and substrate-free designs. Self-powered tattoos gather energy from the body or external sources while substrate-free tattoos, implanted directly onto the skin, eliminate any discomfort and make tattoos suitable for the human body. In this review, we summarize tattoo-like electronics with an emphasis on substrate-free and self-powering features. Concerning conventional and additive manufacturing methods, we provide detailed descriptions of the state of the art, including recent trends and relevant illustrations. Furthermore, the scope of tattoo-like-electronics will be expanded beyond the human-centric domains. We investigate possible applications in plant health monitoring and food safety monitoring and examine the existing challenges and suggest possible pathways for future studies in this research area along with potential in marine life. Despite the great achievements, there are still some problems in the widespread use of tattoo-like electronics, which are biocompatibility, long-term reliability, and integration with various applications. The solution to these issues points to interdisciplinary solutions encompassing materials science, fabrication techniques, and application-specific development.