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Needs and Enabling Technologies for Stretchable Electronics Commercialization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 January 2017

Edward Tan ,
Qingshen Jing ,
Michael Smith ,
Sohini Kar-Narayan  and
Luigi Occhipinti
Edward Tan
Affiliation:
Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, 9 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
Qingshen Jing
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge, CB3 0FS, United Kingdom
Michael Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge, CB3 0FS, United Kingdom
Sohini Kar-Narayan
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, 27 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge, CB3 0FS, United Kingdom
Luigi Occhipinti*
Affiliation:
Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, 9 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
*
*(Email: lgo23@cam.ac.uk)
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Abstract

Stretchable electronics represent an emerging class of devices that can be compressed, twisted and conform to very complicated shapes. The mechanical and electrical compliances of the technology promise to open up applications for healthcare, energy and entertainment purposes. However, advancement in the field has been hindered by material related constraints. Moreover, the current microfabrication facilities are optimized for rigid substrates such as silicon, which have significant different properties compared to elastomers. In this paper, four categories of enabling technologies for stretchable electronics commercialization are critically reviewed, namely: the novel design of stretchable structures, use of non-conventional materials, state-of-art printing techniques and also the patterning of electrodes or metal interconnects via conventional manufacturing techniques.

Keywords

lithography (deposition)microelectro-mechanical (MEMS)ink-jet printing
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Advances , Volume 2 , Issue 31-32: Broader Impact , 2017 , pp. 1721 - 1729
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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