Structure and design of polymers for durable, stretchable organic electronics

Abstract

The field of stretchable electronics has recently gained significant interest from the academic community, with a focus on producing materials that demonstrate reliable electrical performance with improved response to mechanical deformation. This review highlights the recent progress in understanding the relationships between the mechanical behavior and electrical performance of such devices. Potential solutions can take the form of intrinsically elastic polymers, polymer semiconductor/elastomer blends and alternative engineering-oriented approaches, which are discussed herein. Trends and design strategies are beginning to manifest in this early stage of the stretchable electronics field. The development of stretchable electrical systems can provide unique applications of organic electronics. Stretchable electronics are an attractive means for producing mechanically robust devices with enhanced utility and can enable novel applications such as conformal solar cells, electronic skin and wearable electronics. Approaches to stretchable organic electronics, specifically polymer solar cell active layer materials, via a molecular design strategy are presented. Further discussion into polymer blends and engineering approaches to producing other types of stretchable electronics is given. The relationships between mechanical and electrical properties of all these materials are discussed and suggestions are given for future areas of research.