Objective.For decades electrical stimulation has been used in neuroscience to investigate brain networks and been deployed clinically as a mode of therapy. Classically, all methods of electrical stimulation require implanted electrodes to be connected in some manner to an apparatus which provides power for the stimulation itself.Approach. We show the use of novel organic electronic devices, specifically organic electrolytic photocapacitors (OEPCs), which can be activated when illuminated with deep-red wavelengths of light and correspondingly do not require connections with external wires or power supplies when implanted at various depthsin vivo. Main results. We stimulated cortical brain tissue of mice with devices implanted subcutaneously, as well as beneath both the skin and skull to demonstrate a wireless stimulation of the whisker motor cortex. Devices induced both a behavior response (whisker movement) and a sensory response in the corresponding sensory cortex. Additionally, we showed that coating OEPCs with a thin layer of a conducting polymer formulation (PEDOT:PSS) significantly increases their charge storage capacity, and can be used to further optimize the applied photoelectrical stimulation.Significance. Overall, this new technology can provide an on-demand electrical stimulation by simply using an OEPC and a deep-red wavelength illumination. Wires and interconnects to provide power to implanted neurostimulation electrodes are often problematic in freely-moving animal research and with implanted electrodes for long-term therapy in patients. Our wireless brain stimulation opens new perspectives for wireless electrical stimulation for applications in fundamental neurostimulation and in chronic therapy.

Bioelectronics Materials and Devices Laboratory Central European Institute of Technology Brno University of Technology Purkyňova 123 61200 Brno Czech Republic

Center for Bioelectronic Medicine Department of Medicine Solna Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden

Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes INSERM UMR_1106 Aix Marseille Université Marseille France

Laboratory of Organic Electronics Campus Norrköping Linköping University SE 60174 Norrköping Sweden

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Light-Controlled Electric Stimulation with Organic Electrolytic Photocapacitors Achieves Complex Neuronal Network Activation: Semi-Chronic Study in Cortical Cell Culture and Rat Model