Recent Progress on Stretchable Electronic Devices with Intrinsically Stretchable Components

Abstract

Stretchable electronic devices with intrinsically stretchable components have significant inherent advantages, including simple fabrication processes, a high integrity of the stacked layers, and low cost in comparison with stretchable electronic devices based on non-stretchable components. The research in this field has focused on developing new intrinsically stretchable components for conductors, semiconductors, and insulators. New methodologies and fabrication processes have been developed to fabricate stretchable devices with intrinsically stretchable components. The latest successful examples of stretchable conductors for applications in interconnections, electrodes, and piezoresistive devices are reviewed here. Stretchable conductors can be used for electrode or sensor applications depending on the electrical properties of the stretchable conductors under mechanical strain. A detailed overview of the recent progress in stretchable semiconductors, stretchable insulators, and other novel stretchable materials is also given, along with a discussion of the associated technological innovations and challenges. Stretchable electronic devices with intrinsically stretchable components such as field-effect transistors (FETs), photodetectors, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), electronic skins, and energy harvesters are also described and a new strategy for development of stretchable electronic devices is discussed. Conclusions and future prospects for the development of stretchable electronic devices with intrinsically stretchable components are discussed.

A Wearable Second Skin‐Like Multifunctional Supercapacitor with Vertical Gold Nanowires and Electrochromic Polyaniline

“…In the emerging field of wearable skin-mountable electronics, [1][2][3][4] there is an ever-growing demand for soft, stretchable, and skin-conformable energy devices for on-skin biomedical healthcare systems. [5][6][7] Among all the wearable energy devices, wearable supercapacitors have gained tremendous attention in recent years due to conventional merits such as superior power density, long calendar life, fast charging/discharging rate, low cost, and good safety.…”

Emerging Novel Metal Electrodes for Photovoltaic Applications

“…Contributed by the storage of strain in metal NWs with such kind of morphology, the metal NWs can release the strain without broken when the electrode is applied by pulling force, which allows the recovery to original conductivity when the force on electrode is released. Besides the use of intrinsic stretchable polymer as the substrate of flexible transparent electrode, healable polymer materials are attractive for the application of flexible electrode with improved stretchability …”

Enhanced miscibility and strain resistance of blended elastomer/π‐conjugated polymer composites through side chain functionalization towards stretchable electronics

“…The field of stretchable electronics has gained interest in recent years with exciting findings reported for a variety of applications . π‐conjugated polymers are particularly attractive candidates to utilize in stretchable electronic materials because they are solution‐processable, lightweight and structurally modular .…”