Abstract
Recently, the role of clothing has evolved from merely body protection, maintaining the body temperature, and fashion, to advanced functions such as various types of information delivery, communication, and even augmented reality. With a wireless internet connection, the integration of circuits and sensors, and a portable power supply, clothes become a novel electronic device. Currently, the information display is the most intuitive interface using visualized communication methods and the simultaneous concurrent processing of inputs and outputs between a wearer and functional clothes. The important aspect in this case is to maintain the characteristic softness of the fabrics even when electronic devices are added to the flexible clothes. Silicone-based light-emitting diode (LED) jackets, shirts, and stage costumes have started to appear, but the intrinsic stiffness of inorganic semiconductors causes wearers to feel discomfort; thus, it is difficult to use such devices for everyday purposes. To address this problem, a method of fabricating a thin and flexible emitting fabric utilizing organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) was developed in this work. Its flexibility was evaluated, and an analysis of its mechanical bending characteristics and tests of its long-term reliability were carried out.
Highlights
Is not greatly affected by a display panel, as the substrate is not made of plastic but is an actual fabric
It is difficult to maintain their performance under harsh mechanical stress conditions because the very high surface roughness of a fabric prevents the operation of nm-thick organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)
The fabric substrate in this work was woven tightly with fine thread to reduce the surface roughness, and additive planarization of the fabric was conducted to ensure the operation of a 200-nm-thick OLED
Summary
Silicone-based light-emitting diode (LED) jackets, shirts, and stage costumes have started to appear, but the intrinsic stiffness of inorganic semiconductors causes wearers to feel discomfort; it is difficult to use such devices for everyday purposes. To address this problem, a method of fabricating a thin and flexible emitting fabric utilizing organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) was developed in this work. For aesthetic and functional factors as well as intuitive communications with smart electronics, the achievement of clothing-based information displays should take precedence over other wearable devices. Mechanical analyses of the fabric-based device are conducted and the results discussed
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