The emerging field of conformable electronics places new physical requirements on electronic components. Integration directly into or onto soft materials such as textiles or biological tissues is of increasing interest for applications spanning medical, safety, security, infrastructure, and communication industries among many others. The unique requirement imposed in this field is that the electronics must be highly flexible in order to survive the mechanical deformation of the malleable host material. This talk introduces a technology platform for the development of large-area, ultrathin and lightweight electronic and photonic devices, including organic solar cells, light emitting diodes and active-matrix touch panels. Organic solar cells, less than 2 μm thick, endure extreme mechanical deformation and have an unprecedented power output per weight of 10 W/g. Highly flexible, stretch-compatible polymer light emitting diodes for display applications and ambient lightning conform to arbitrary 3D free-forms and provide electrical functionality in yet unexplored ways through simple and cost-effective fabrication. Tactile sensor arrays based on active-matrix organic thin film transistors weight only 3 g/m2 and can be operated at elevated temperatures and in aqueous environments. For health care and monitoring, such imperceptible sensing and actuating systems ensure the smallest possible discomfort for patients. When transferred to a pre-stretched elastomer substrate, our ultrathin electronic foils become ultra-compliant, withstanding mechanical stretching and relaxation cycles to more than 400 % tensile strain repeatedly.
The emerging field of conformable electronics places new physical requirements on electronic components. Integration directly into or onto soft materials such as textiles or biological tissues is of increasing interest for applications spanning medical, safety, security, infrastructure, and communication industries among many others. The unique requirement imposed in this field is that the electronics must be highly flexible in order to survive the mechanical deformation of the malleable host material. This talk introduces a technology platform for the development of large-area, ultrathin and lightweight electronic and photonic devices, including organic solar cells, light emitting diodes and active-matrix touch panels. Organic solar cells, less than 2 μm thick, endure extreme mechanical deformation and have an unprecedented power output per weight of 10 W/g. Highly flexible, stretch-compatible polymer light emitting diodes for display applications and ambient lightning conform to arbitrary 3D free-forms and provide electrical functionality in yet unexplored ways through simple and cost-effective fabrication. Tactile sensor arrays based on active-matrix organic thin film transistors weight only 3 g/m2 and can be operated at elevated temperatures and in aqueous environments. For health care and monitoring, such imperceptible sensing and actuating systems ensure the smallest possible discomfort for patients. When transferred to a pre-stretched elastomer substrate, our ultrathin electronic foils become ultra-compliant, withstanding mechanical stretching and relaxation cycles to more than 400 % tensile strain repeatedly.
