Stretchable electronics, also known as elastic electronics or elastic circuits, is a group of technologies for building electronic circuits by depositing or embedding electronic devices and circuits onto stretchable substrates such as silicones or polyurethanes, to make a completed circuit that can experience large strains without failure. In the simplest case, stretchable electronics can be made by using the same components used for rigid printed circuit boards, with the rigid substrate cut to enable in-plane stretchability. However, many researchers have also sought intrinsically stretchable conductors, such as liquid metals. One of the major challenges in this domain is designing the substrate and the interconnections to be, rather than flexible or rigid. Typically, polymers are chosen as substrates or material to embed. When bending the substrate, the outermost radius of the bend will stretch (see Strain in an Euler–Bernoulli beam, subjecting the interconnects to high mechanical strain. Stretchable electronics often attempts biomimicry of human skin and flesh, in being stretchable, whilst retaining full functionality. The design space for products is opened up with stretchable electronics, including sensitive electronic skin for robotic devices and in vivo implantable sponge-like electronics.
Applications
Energy
Several stretchable energy storage devices and supercapacitors are made using carbon-based materials such as single-walled carbon nanotubes. A study by Li et al. showed a stretchable supercapacitor, that performed dynamic charging and discharging. The key drawback of this stretchable energy storage technology is the low specific capacitance and energy density, although this can potentially be improved by the incorporation of redox materials, for example the SWNT/MnO2 electrode. Another approach to creating a stretchable energy storage device is the use of Origami folding principles. The resulting origami battery achieved significant linear and areal deformability, large twistability and bendability.
Medicine
Stretchable electronics could be integrated into smart garments to interact seamlessly with the human body and detect diseases or collect patient data in a non-invasive manner. For example, researchers from Seoul National University and have developed a patch that is able to detect glucose levels in sweat and can deliver the medicine needed on demand. The patch consists of graphene riddled with gold particles and contains sensors that are able to detect temperature, pH level, glucose, and humidity. Stretchable electronics also permit developers to create soft robots, to implement minimally invasive surgeries in hospitals. Especially when it comes to surgeries of the brain and every millimeter is important, such robots may have a more precise scope of action than a human.
