Stretchable Thin‐Film Electrodes for Flexible Electronics with High Deformability and Stretchability

Abstract

Flexible and stretchable electronics represent today's cutting-edge electronic technologies. As the most-fundamental component of electronics, the thin-film electrode remains the research frontier due to its key role in the successful development of flexible and stretchable electronic devices. Stretchability, however, is generally more challenging to achieve than flexibility. Stretchable electronic devices demand, above all else, that the thin-film electrodes have the capacity to absorb a large level of strain (>>1%) without obvious changes in their electrical performance. This article reviews the progress in strategies for obtaining highly stretchable thin-film electrodes. Applications of stretchable thin-film electrodes fabricated via these strategies are described. Some perspectives and challenges in this field are also put forward.

Electrical limit of silver nanowire electrodes: Direct measurement of the nanowire junction resistance

“…[1][2][3] Currently, they allow the fabrication of flexible lab-scale devices showing performance parity with devices comprising the considerably more brittle and sputter-deposited indium tin oxide (ITO). 4 Still, one important challenge is to further decrease the corresponding R S of AgNW networks, since future products are expected to be fabricated on large area and curved substrates. Their size will clearly exceed the typical lab scale device which leads to much larger voltage drops and to a worse charge collection in the product if the sheet resistance cannot be decreased further.…”

Nanomaterial-based stretchable and transparent electrodes

“…Another strategy is to blend conducting ions with stretchable transparent elastomers or hydrogels [92,93]. These approaches are well described in the previous literature [8][9][10].…”

“…Transparent electrodes are particularly important for optoelectronic devices such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic photovoltaics. Accordingly, transparent electrodes with a stretchable form factor have been extensively studied for the realization of stretchable electronics [8][9][10]. As the conventional metals or transparent conductive oxides (e.g.…”

Dielectric Elastomer Sensors

“…They must have the ability to exhibit large deformation (bend, fold, twist, compress, and stretch) while maintaining a high level of conductive performance, integration and reliability [33]. Of the work performed on stretchable and flexible electrodes, two main types of conductors, electrical conductors and ionic conductors, have been identified as the most desirable for modification of the electrodes based on their conductance.…”