Fabrication and modelling of screen-printed active electrolytic polymer devices

Abstract

Active polymer materials allow the construction of cheap, flexible circuitry using simple printing techniques. A process and devices capable of performing a variety of circuit functions using electrolytic technology have been developed. The process is based on a simple screen printing system that allows the formation of multilayer circuitry with no active layer-to-layer alignment. Using this system, it has been possible to build a number of circuits utilizing transistor-like electrolytic devices and other active devices with novel topologies. Models have been developed that provide the ability to simulate arbitrary device geometries using a standard-cell approach for the basic elements required. These have allowed accurate simulation of the dynamic response of a number of device structures to be performed.