Development of Stretchable Devices Using Multi-layer Organic Materials

Stretchability is a fundamental requirement for nonplanar electronic devices such as a health monitoring system attached to a human body, or a solar cell attached to cylindrical/spherical buildings. Generally, flexible electronic devices can be achieved by laminating thin films of functional materials on a flexible substrate, as thin films are usually resistive to bending deformation. On the other hand, stretchable electronic devices are difficult to fabricate, because stretch is inevitably applied to the components of electronic devices. In this study, as a way of making stretchable electronic devices, we attached a thin film of organic electronic material onto an elastomeric substrate resulting in a wavy pattern on the surface. By utilizing the plastic deformation of a thin film, a wavy pattern of an organic material can be achieved in a simple manner, which exhibits stretchability by flattening its structure under stretch.