Optically Transparent Multiscale Composite Films for Flexible and Wearable Electronics

Abstract

One of the key breakthroughs enabling flexible electronics with novel form factors is the deployment of flexible polymer films in place of brittle glass, which is one of the major structural materials for conventional electronic devices. Flexible electronics requires polymer films with the core properties of glass (i.e., dimensional stability and transparency) while retaining the pliability of the polymer, which, however, is fundamentally intractable due to the mutually exclusive nature of these characteristics. An overview of a transparent fiber‐reinforced polymer, which is suggested as a potentially viable structural material for emerging flexible/wearable electronics, is provided. This includes material concept and fabrication and a brief review of recent research progress on its applications over the past decade.

Stretchable Electronics Based on PDMS Substrates

“…Flexible electronics, which can retain the function of the circuits and electric components while being bent, extend the concept of electronics into new application scenarios. [ 1–6 ] One primary instance of these electronics entails their possibility to be conformally placed on the nonplanar human skin or tissue to provide comfortable body monitoring. [ 7–11 ] However, human skin or tissue is not only flexible, but it is also stretchable (10% strain for brain, 20–35% strain for heart, and ≈100% strain for skin).…”

Imaging‐Based Metrics Drawn from Visual Perception of Haze and Clarity of Materials. I. Method, Analysis, and Distance‐Dependent Transparency

“…[ 2,3,11 ] The opposite, i.e., high haze, is often sought for applications in optics such as light‐management layers for display and photovoltaic technologies. [ 12–14 ] Hence, accurate quantification of transparency in terms of haze is of principal importance for research and development of novel materials, as well as determining the suitability of a given material for specific applications and quality control.…”

Azobenzene-Containing Liquid Crystalline Composites for Robust Ultraviolet Detectors Based on Conversion of Illuminance-Mechanical Stress-Electric Signals

“…For the past decade, wearable electronics have been rapidly developed for envisioned applications in a wide range of areas such as healthcare devices, 1 environmental monitors, 2 power supplies, 3 and Internet of Things technologies, 4 because of their multiple sensing capabilities, unique exibility, and portability. 5 Among the versatile wearable electronics, ultraviolet (UV) detectors have garnered extensive attention in recent years for their signi cant applications in the military and civilian realms, such as defense warning systems, 6 photochemical synthesis, 7 medical treatments, 8 security communication, 9 etc. However, due to the strong penetrating ability, excess UV exposure can reach deep skin layers, leading to serious health hazards such as skin ageing and skin cancer.…”