Robust and Soft Elastomeric Electronics Tolerant to Our Daily Lives

Abstract

Clothes represent a unique textile, as they simultaneously provide robustness against our daily activities and comfort (i.e., softness). For electronic devices to be fully integrated into clothes, the devices themselves must be as robust and soft as the clothes themselves. However, to date, no electronic device has ever possessed these properties, because all contain components fabricated from brittle materials, such as metals. Here, we demonstrate robust and soft elastomeric devices where every component possesses elastomeric characteristics with two types of single-walled carbon nanotubes added to provide the necessary electronic properties. Our elastomeric field effect transistors could tolerate every punishment our clothes experience, such as being stretched (elasticity: ∼ 110%), bent, compressed (>4.0 MPa, by a car and heels), impacted (>6.26 kg m/s, by a hammer), and laundered. Our electronic device provides a novel design principle for electronics and wide range applications even in research fields where devices cannot be used.

Pursuing prosthetic electronic skin

“…Many of the individual components for prosthetic skin, including temperature sensors 49 , tactile sensors 35,50-52 and transistors 45,53,54 , have been demonstrated using intrinsically stretchable electronic materials (Fig. 2c).…”

“…However, the fabrication processes and the device performance are not yet sufficient for the types of circuits required to process biomimetic signals, as discussed in the 'Methods for encoding biomimetic data' section. For instance, ionic dielectrics have dominated the field of stretchable transistors 45,53,54 because they are robust to thickness variations and are compatible with co planar patterning methods 54 . However, ionic dielectrics often exhibit impaired time response and large hysteresis, limiting their applicability in prosthetic electronic skin.…”

“…It is therefore clear that the toughness and durability of prosthetic electronic skin, the cost of which is expected to be higher than standard passive skin-like coverings, are mandatory conditions to enable the routine use of this technology. Elastomeric materials can sustain large pressures and impacts while remaining functional 54 , and choosing materials with high toughness and tear strength can ensure functionality despite punctures and tears 45 (Fig. 2d).…”

Direct imaging of defect formation in strained organic flexible electronics by Scanning Kelvin Probe Microscopy

“…A wide range of different material platforms including carbon-based nanostructures123 or organic compounds456, metals78 and oxides9 are currently investigated to realize devices that would be key to several emerging applications often related to the interface between humans and communication and information technology. Examples are wearable electronic transducers and processors or electronic energy harvesting systems as employed in electronic skin1011121314, implantable bioelectronic devices151617 or electronic textiles7.…”

A Real-Time and Energy-Efficient Implementation of Difference-of-Gaussian with Flexible Thin-Film Transistors

“…For example, flexible wearable electronics could be used for surveillance purposes, some researches on which have resulted in a number of prototype garments that can monitor and relay various types of data [2]. Robust and soft elastomeric devices are demonstrated in [3], which have excellent mechanical properties, for example, it could withstand pressures more than 4.0 MPa, a strain of over 110% and folding, and could be twisted more than 180°. General information about electronic skin is shown in [4], which can replace seriously damaged skin due to burst or diseases and replicate body's sense for robotic senses.…”