The burgeoning interest in flexible electronics necessitates the creation of patterning technology specifically tailored for flexible substrates and complex surface morphologies.Among a variety of patterning technique...The burgeoning interest in flexible electronics necessitates the creation of patterning technology specifically tailored for flexible substrates and complex surface morphologies.Among a variety of patterning techniques,transfer printing emerges as one of the most efficient,cost-effective,and scalable methods.It boasts the ability for high-throughput fabrication of 0–3D micro-and nano-structures on flexible substrates,working in tandem with traditional lithography methods.This review highlights the critical issue of transfer printing:the flawless transfer of devices during the pick-up and printing process.We encapsulate recent advancements in numerous transfer printing techniques,with a particular emphasis on strategies to control adhesion forces at the substrate/device/stamp interfaces.These strategies are employed to meet the requirements of competing fractures for successful pick-up and print processes.The mechanism,advantages,disadvantages,and typical applications of each transfer printing technique will be thoroughly discussed.The conclusion section provides design guidelines and probes potential directions for future advancements.展开更多
Flexible electronics offer a multitude of advantages,such as flexibility,lightweight property,portability,and high durability.These unique properties allow for seamless applications to curved and soft surfaces,leading...Flexible electronics offer a multitude of advantages,such as flexibility,lightweight property,portability,and high durability.These unique properties allow for seamless applications to curved and soft surfaces,leading to extensive utilization across a wide range of fields in consumer electronics.These applications,for example,span integrated circuits,solar cells,batteries,wearable devices,bio-implants,soft robotics,and biomimetic applications.Recently,flexible electronic devices have been developed using a variety of materials such as organic,carbon-based,and inorganic semiconducting materials.Silicon(Si)owing to its mature fabrication process,excellent electrical,optical,thermal properties,and cost efficiency,remains a compelling material choice for flexible electronics.Consequently,the research on ultra-thin Si in the context of flexible electronics is studied rigorously nowadays.The thinning of Si is crucially important for flexible electronics as it reduces its bending stiffness and the resultant bending strain,thereby enhancing flexibility while preserving its exceptional properties.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent efforts in the fabrication techniques for forming ultra-thin Si using top-down and bottom-up approaches and explores their utilization in flexible electronics and their applications.展开更多
Flexible electronics and optoelectronics exhibit inevitable trends in next-generation intelligent industries,including healthcare and wellness,electronic skins,the automotive industry,and foldable or rollable displays...Flexible electronics and optoelectronics exhibit inevitable trends in next-generation intelligent industries,including healthcare and wellness,electronic skins,the automotive industry,and foldable or rollable displays.Traditional bulk-material-based flexible devices considerably rely on lattice-matched crystal structures and are usually plagued by unavoidable chemical disorders at the interface.Two-dimensional van der Waals materials(2D VdWMs)have exceptional multifunctional properties,including large specific area,dangling-bond-free interface,plane-to-plane van der Waals interactions,and excellent mechanical,electrical,and optical properties.Thus,2D VdWMs have considerable application potential in functional intelligent flexible devices.To utilize the unique properties of 2D VdWMs and their van der Waals heterostructures,new designs and configurations of electronics and optoelectronics have emerged.However,these new designs and configurations do not consider lattice mismatch and process incompatibility issues.In this review,we summarized the recently reported 2D VdWM-based flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices with various functions thoroughly.Moreover,we identified the challenges and opportunities for further applications of 2D VdWM-based flexible electronics and optoelectronics.展开更多
As a potential flexible substrate for flexible electronics, a polymer-sandwiched ultra-thin silicon platform is stud- ied. SU-8 photoresist coated on the silicon membrane improves its flexibility as shown by an ANSYS ...As a potential flexible substrate for flexible electronics, a polymer-sandwiched ultra-thin silicon platform is stud- ied. SU-8 photoresist coated on the silicon membrane improves its flexibility as shown by an ANSYS simulation. Using the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited Si02/Si3N4 composite film as an etching mask, a 4" silicon- (100) wafer is thinned to 26[tm without rupture in a 30wt.% KOH solution. The thinned wafer is coated on both sides with 20 pm of SU-8 photoresist and is cut into strips. Then the strips are bent by a caliper to measure its bending radius. A sector model of bending deformation is adopted to estimate the radius of curvature. The determined minimal bending radius of the polymer-sandwiched ultra-thin silicon layer is no more than 3.3mm. The fabrication process of this sandwich structure can be used as a post-fabrication process for high performance flexible electronics.展开更多
Laminated hard-soft integrated structures play a significant role in the fabrication and development of flexible electronics devices. Flexible electronics have advantageous characteristics such as soft and light-weigh...Laminated hard-soft integrated structures play a significant role in the fabrication and development of flexible electronics devices. Flexible electronics have advantageous characteristics such as soft and light-weight, can be folded,twisted, flipped inside-out, or be pasted onto other surfaces of arbitrary shapes. In this paper, an analytical model is presented to study the mechanics of laminated hard-soft structures in flexible electronics under a stickup state. Thirdorder polynomials are used to describe the displacement field,and the principle of virtual work is adopted to derive the governing equations and boundary conditions. The normal strain and the shear stress along the thickness direction in the bimaterial region are obtained analytically, which agree well with the results from finite element analysis. The analytical model can be used to analyze stickup state laminated structures, and can serve as a valuable reference for the failure prediction and optimal design of flexible electronics in the future.展开更多
Hydrogels electrolytes with flexibility and high conductivity have been widely used in kinds of flexible electronics.However,hydrogels always suffer from the inevitable freezing of water at subzero temperatures,which ...Hydrogels electrolytes with flexibility and high conductivity have been widely used in kinds of flexible electronics.However,hydrogels always suffer from the inevitable freezing of water at subzero temperatures,which results in the sacrificing of their electrical properties.Herein,an anti-freezing,flexible hydrogel based on in situ reduction of graphene oxide(GO)and laponite has been developed as electrolyte for high performance supercapacitor and sensitive sensors.The crosslinked GO and laponite in polyacrylamide(PAM)resulted in an enhanced mechanical property,while the in-situ reduction of GO in the hydrogel enhanced the conductivity and diminishes the aggregated of GO.These features guarantee a reliable electro signal as sensor and a high performance of the supercapacitor.Besides,in the process of preparation of reduced graphene oxide(rGO)hydrogel,the addition of ethylene glycol(EG)and KOH,endows the hydrogel antifreeze properties.This anti-freezing electrolyte can be stretched to a strain of 1600%and maintained a specific capacitance of 37.38 F·g^(-1) at-20℃.In addition,the photothermal conversion character of rGO in the hydrogel,endows it’s the potential application in wound healing.The overall merits of the hydrogel will open up a new avenue for sensitive sensor and energy storage device in practical applications.展开更多
Flexible electronics has emerged as a continuously growing field of study.Two-dimensional(2D)materials often act as conductors and electrodes in elec-tronic devices,holding significant promise in the design of high-pe...Flexible electronics has emerged as a continuously growing field of study.Two-dimensional(2D)materials often act as conductors and electrodes in elec-tronic devices,holding significant promise in the design of high-performance,flexible electronics.Numerous studies have focused on harnessing the potential of these materials for the development of such devices.However,to date,the incorporation of 2D materials in flexible electronics has rarely been summa-rized or reviewed.Consequently,there is an urgent need to develop compre-hensive reviews for rapid updates on this evolving landscape.This review covers progress in complex material architectures based on 2D materials,including interfaces,heterostructures,and 2D/polymer composites.Addition-ally,it explores flexible and wearable energy storage and conversion,display and touch technologies,and biomedical applications,together with integrated design solutions.Although the pursuit of high-performance and high-sensitivity instruments remains a primary objective,the integrated design of flexible electronics with 2D materials also warrants consideration.By combin-ing multiple functionalities into a singular device,augmented by machine learning and algorithms,we can potentially surpass the performance of existing wearable technologies.Finally,we briefly discuss the future trajectory of this burgeoning field.This review discusses the recent advancements in flex-ible sensors made from 2D materials and their applications in integrated archi-tecture and device design.展开更多
Miniaturization and flexibility are becoming the trend in the development of electronic products. These key features are driving new methods in the manufacturing of such products. Printed electronics technology is a n...Miniaturization and flexibility are becoming the trend in the development of electronic products. These key features are driving new methods in the manufacturing of such products. Printed electronics technology is a novel additive manufacturing technique that uses active inks to print onto a diverse set of substrates, realizing large-area, low-cost, flexible and green manufacturing of electronic products. These advantageous properties make it extremely compatible with flexible electronics fabrication and extend as far as offering revolutionary methods in the production of flexible electronic devices. In this paper, the details of a printing process system are introduced, including the materials that can be employed as inks, common substrates, and the most recently reported printing strategies. An assessment of future setbacks and developments of printed flexible electronics is also presented.展开更多
Electrohydrodynamic(EHD)printing technique,which deposits micro/nanostructures through high electric force,has recently attracted significant research interest owing to their fascinating characteristics in high resolu...Electrohydrodynamic(EHD)printing technique,which deposits micro/nanostructures through high electric force,has recently attracted significant research interest owing to their fascinating characteristics in high resolution(<1μm),wide material applicability(ink viscosity 1–10000 cps),tunable printing modes(electrospray,electrospinning,and EHD jet printing),and compatibility with flexible/wearable applications.Since the laboratory level of the EHD printed electronics'resolution and efficiency is gradually approaching the commercial application level,an urgent need for developing EHD technique from laboratory into industrialization have been put forward.Herein,we first discuss the EHD printing technique,including the ink design,droplet formation,and key technologies for promoting printing efficiency/accuracy.Then we summarize the recent progress of EHD printing in fabrication of displays,organic field-effect transistors(OFETs),transparent electrodes,and sensors and actuators.Finally,a brief summary and the outlook for future research effort are presented.展开更多
This study employs theoretical analysis to explore the application prospects of flexible electronics technology in wearable devices. The research first reviews the development history and theoretical foundations of fl...This study employs theoretical analysis to explore the application prospects of flexible electronics technology in wearable devices. The research first reviews the development history and theoretical foundations of flexible electronics technology, including materials science, electronic engineering, and human-computer interaction theory. Through systematic analysis, the study evaluates the theoretical potential of flexible displays, flexible sensors, and flexible energy storage devices in wearable technology. The research finds that flexible electronics technology can significantly improve the comfort, functionality, and durability of wearable devices. Theoretical analysis indicates that flexible sensors have unique advantages in physiological monitoring and human-computer interaction, while flexible displays and batteries may revolutionize the form and usage patterns of wearable devices. However, the study also points out theoretical challenges faced by flexible electronics technology, such as material stability and feasibility of large-scale manufacturing. To address these challenges, the research proposes an interdisciplinary research framework, emphasizing the synergistic innovation of materials science, electronic engineering, and ergonomics. Finally, the study envisions the theoretical prospects of integrating flexible electronics with other emerging technologies, providing directions for future research.展开更多
Hydrogels offer tissue-like softness,stretchability,fracture toughness,ionic conductivity,and compatibility with biological tissues,which make them promising candidates for fabricating flexible bioelectronics.A soft h...Hydrogels offer tissue-like softness,stretchability,fracture toughness,ionic conductivity,and compatibility with biological tissues,which make them promising candidates for fabricating flexible bioelectronics.A soft hydrogel film offers an ideal interface to directly bridge thin-film electronics with the soft tissues.However,it remains difficult to fabricate a soft hydrogel film with an ultrathin configuration and excellent mechanical strength.Here we report a biological tissue-inspired ultrasoft microfiber composite ultrathin(<5μm)hydrogel film,which is currently the thinnest hydrogel film as far as we know.The embedded microfibers endow the composite hydrogel with prominent mechanical strength(tensile stress~6 MPa)and anti-tearing property.Moreover,our microfiber composite hydrogel offers the capability of tunable mechanical properties in a broad range,allowing for matching the modulus of most biological tissues and organs.The incorporation of glycerol and salt ions imparts the microfiber composite hydrogel with high ionic conductivity and prominent anti-dehydration behavior.Such microfiber composite hydrogels are promising for constructing attaching-type flexible bioelectronics to monitor biosignals.展开更多
Flexible electronics technology is considered as a revolutionary technology to unlock the bottleneck of traditional rigid electronics that prevalent for decades,thereby fueling the next-generation electronics.In the p...Flexible electronics technology is considered as a revolutionary technology to unlock the bottleneck of traditional rigid electronics that prevalent for decades,thereby fueling the next-generation electronics.In the past few decades,the research on flexible electronic devices based on organic materials has witnessed rapid development and substantial achievements,and inorganic semiconductors are also now beginning to shine in the field of flexible electronics.As validated by the latest research,some of the inorganic semiconductors,particularly those at low dimension,unexpectedly exhibited excellent mechanical flexibility on top of superior electrical properties.Herein,we bring together a comprehensive analysis on the recently burgeoning low-dimension inorganic semiconductor materials in flexible electronics,including one-dimensional(1D)inorganic semiconductor nanowires(NWs)and two-dimensional(2D)transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs).The fundamental electrical properties,optical properties,mechanical properties and strain engineering of materials,and their performance in flexible device applications are discussed in detail.We also propose current challenges and predict future development directions including material synthesis and device fabrication and integration.展开更多
The recent wave of the artificial intelligence(AI)revolution has aroused unprecedented interest in the intelligentialize of human society.As an essential component that bridges the physical world and digital signals,f...The recent wave of the artificial intelligence(AI)revolution has aroused unprecedented interest in the intelligentialize of human society.As an essential component that bridges the physical world and digital signals,flexible sensors are evolving from a single sensing element to a smarter system,which is capable of highly efficient acquisition,analysis,and even perception of vast,multifaceted data.While challenging from a manual perspective,the development of intelligent flexible sensing has been remarkably facilitated owing to the rapid advances of brain-inspired AI innovations from both the algorithm(machine learning)and the framework(artificial synapses)level.This review presents the recent progress of the emerging AI-driven,intelligent flexible sensing systems.The basic concept of machine learning and artificial synapses are introduced.The new enabling features induced by the fusion of AI and flexible sensing are comprehensively reviewed,which significantly advances the applications such as flexible sensory systems,soft/humanoid robotics,and human activity monitoring.As two of the most profound innovations in the twenty-first century,the deep incorporation of flexible sensing and AI technology holds tremendous potential for creating a smarter world for human beings.展开更多
Electrochromic technology has gained significant attention in various fields such as displays,smart windows,biomedical monitoring,military camouflage,human-machine interaction,and electronic skin due to its ability to...Electrochromic technology has gained significant attention in various fields such as displays,smart windows,biomedical monitoring,military camouflage,human-machine interaction,and electronic skin due to its ability to provide reversible and fast color changes under applied voltage.With the rapid development and increasing demand for flexible electronics,flexible electrochromic devices(FECDs)that offer smarter and more controllable light modulation hold great promise for practical applications.The electrochromic material(ECM)undergoing color changes during the electrochemical reactions is one of the key components in electrochromic devices.Among the ECMs,viologens,a family of organic small molecules with 1,1'-disubstituted-4,4'-dipyridinium salts,have garnered extensive research interest,due to their well-reversible redox reactions,excellent electron acceptance ability,and the ability to produce multiple colors.Notably,viologen-based FECDs demonstrate color changes in the liquid or semisolid electrolyte layer,eliminating the need for two solid electrodes and thus simplifying the device structure.Consequently,viologens offer significant potential for the development of FECDs with high optical contrast,fast response speed,and excellent stability.This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the progress and perspectives of viologen-based FECDs.It begins by summarizing the typical structure and recent exciting developments in viologen-based FECDs,along with their advantages and disadvantages.Furthermore,the review discusses recent advancements in FECDs with additional functionalities such as sensing,photochromism,and energy storage.Finally,the remaining challenges and potential research directions for the future of viologen-based FECDs are addressed.展开更多
The rapid evolution of flexible electronic devices promises to revolutionize numerous fields by expanding the applications of smart devices.Nevertheless,despite this vast potential,the reliability of these innovative ...The rapid evolution of flexible electronic devices promises to revolutionize numerous fields by expanding the applications of smart devices.Nevertheless,despite this vast potential,the reliability of these innovative devices currently falls short,especially in light of demanding operation environment and the intrinsic challenges associated with their fabrication techniques.The heterogeneity in these processes and environments gives rise to unique failure modes throughout the devices'lifespan.To significantly enhance the reliability of these devices and assure long-term performance,it is paramount to comprehend the underpinning failure mechanisms thoroughly,thereby,enabling,optimal design solutions.A myriad of investigative efforts have been dedicated to unravel these failure mechanisms,utilizing a spectrum of tools from analytical models,numerical methods,to advanced characterization methods.This review delves into the root causes of device failure,scrutinizing both the fabrication process and the operation environment.Next,We subsequently address the failure mechanisms across four commonly observed modes:strength failure,fatigue failure,interfacial failure,and electrical failure,followed by an overview of targeted characterization methods associated with each mechanism.Concluding with an outlook,we spotlight ongoing challenges and promising directions for future research in our pursuit of highly resilient flexible electronic devices.展开更多
High-performance ion-conducting hydrogels(ICHs)are vital for developing flexible electronic devices.However,the robustness and ion-conducting behavior of ICHs deteriorate at extreme tempera-tures,hampering their use i...High-performance ion-conducting hydrogels(ICHs)are vital for developing flexible electronic devices.However,the robustness and ion-conducting behavior of ICHs deteriorate at extreme tempera-tures,hampering their use in soft electronics.To resolve these issues,a method involving freeze–thawing and ionizing radiation technology is reported herein for synthesizing a novel double-network(DN)ICH based on a poly(ionic liquid)/MXene/poly(vinyl alcohol)(PMP DN ICH)system.The well-designed ICH exhibits outstanding ionic conductivity(63.89 mS cm^(-1) at 25℃),excellent temperature resistance(-60–80℃),prolonged stability(30 d at ambient temperature),high oxidation resist-ance,remarkable antibacterial activity,decent mechanical performance,and adhesion.Additionally,the ICH performs effectively in a flexible wireless strain sensor,thermal sensor,all-solid-state supercapacitor,and single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerator,thereby highlighting its viability in constructing soft electronic devices.The highly integrated gel structure endows these flexible electronic devices with stable,reliable signal output performance.In particular,the all-solid-state supercapacitor containing the PMP DN ICH electrolyte exhibits a high areal specific capacitance of 253.38 mF cm^(-2)(current density,1 mA cm^(-2))and excellent environmental adaptability.This study paves the way for the design and fabrication of high-performance mul-tifunctional/flexible ICHs for wearable sensing,energy-storage,and energy-harvesting applications.展开更多
In the past decade,the global industry and research attentions on intelligent skin-like electronics have boosted their applications in diverse fields including human healthcare,Internet of Things,human–machine interf...In the past decade,the global industry and research attentions on intelligent skin-like electronics have boosted their applications in diverse fields including human healthcare,Internet of Things,human–machine interfaces,artificial intelligence and soft robotics.Among them,flexible humidity sensors play a vital role in noncontact measurements relying on the unique property of rapid response to humidity change.This work presents an overview of recent advances in flexible humidity sensors using various active functional materials for contactless monitoring.Four categories of humidity sensors are highlighted based on resistive,capacitive,impedance-type and voltage-type working mechanisms.Furthermore,typical strategies including chemical doping,structural design and Joule heating are introduced to enhance the performance of humidity sensors.Drawing on the noncontact perception capability,human/plant healthcare management,human-machine interactions as well as integrated humidity sensor-based feedback systems are presented.The burgeoning innovations in this research field will benefit human society,especially during the COVID-19 epidemic,where cross-infection should be averted and contactless sensation is highly desired.展开更多
Flexible electronics have emerged as an exciting research area in recent years,serving as ideal interfaces bridging biological systems and conventional electronic devices.Flexible electronics can not only collect phys...Flexible electronics have emerged as an exciting research area in recent years,serving as ideal interfaces bridging biological systems and conventional electronic devices.Flexible electronics can not only collect physiological signals for human health monitoring but also enrich our daily life with multifunctional smart materials and devices.Conductive hydrogels(CHs)have become promising candidates for the fabrication of flexible electronics owing to their biocompatibility,adjustable mechanical flexibility,good conductivity,and multiple stimuli-responsive properties.To achieve on-demand mechanical properties such as stretchability,compressibility,and elasticity,the rational design of polymer networks via modulating chemical and physical intermolecular interactions is required.Moreover,the type of conductive components(eg,electron-conductive materials,ions)and the incorporation method also play an important role in the conductivity of CHs.Electron-CHs usually possess excellent conductivity,while ion-CHs are generally transparent and can generate ion gradients within the hydrogel matrices.This mini review focuses on the recent advances in the design of CHs,introducing various design strategies for electron-CHs and ion-CHs employed in flexible electronics and highlighting their versatile applications such as biosensors,batteries,supercapacitors,nanogenerators,actuators,touch panels,and displays.展开更多
Wearable electronics offer incredible benefits in mobile healthcare monitoring,sensing,portable energy harvesting and storage,human-machine interactions,etc.,due to the evolution of rigid electronics structure to flex...Wearable electronics offer incredible benefits in mobile healthcare monitoring,sensing,portable energy harvesting and storage,human-machine interactions,etc.,due to the evolution of rigid electronics structure to flexible and stretchable devices.Lately,transition metal carbides and nitrides(MXenes)are highly regarded as a group of thriving two-dimensional nanomaterials and extraordinary building blocks for emerging flexible electronics platforms because of their excellent electrical conductivity,enriched surface functionalities,and large surface area.This article reviews the most recent developments in MXene-enabled flexible electronics for wearable electronics.Several MXeneenabled electronic devices designed on a nanometric scale are highlighted by drawing attention to widely developed nonstructural attributes,including 3D configured devices,textile and planer substrates,bioinspired structures,and printed materials.Furthermore,the unique progress of these nanodevices is highlighted by representative applications in healthcare,energy,electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding,and humanoid control of machines.The emerging prospects of MXene nanomaterials as a key frontier in nextgeneration wearable electronics are envisioned and the design challenges of these electronic systems are also discussed,followed by proposed solutions.展开更多
Transparent electrodes are essential components for optoelectronic devices such as displays and thin-film solar cells. Traditionally, the deposition of transparent conducting layers and the sealing of the device are s...Transparent electrodes are essential components for optoelectronic devices such as displays and thin-film solar cells. Traditionally, the deposition of transparent conducting layers and the sealing of the device are separate steps. Here we report on a highly transparent, conductive, and flexible "tape", which can be obtained by transferring silver nanowire networks to conventional transparent tape. We utilized the viscidity of the tape to reduce the junction resistance between silver nanowires and further protect the nanowires from corrosion, oxidation and mechanical damage. By this simple method, we obtained a flexible tape with high transparency (-90% at 550 nm wavelength) and low sheet resistance (approaching 22 Ω.sq^-1). The transparent tape can be attached and stuck firmly on complex surfaces, making the surface highly conductive. We demonstrated the use of the tape as both a conducting layer and a sealing layer for flexible electronics applications including in-situ temperature monitoring and electrochromic devices.展开更多
基金financial support from the RGC Senior Research Fellowship Scheme(SRFS2122-5S04)General Research Fund(15304322)+1 种基金RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship(PDFS2324-5S10)State Key Laboratory for Ultraprecision Machining Technology(1-BBXR).
文摘The burgeoning interest in flexible electronics necessitates the creation of patterning technology specifically tailored for flexible substrates and complex surface morphologies.Among a variety of patterning techniques,transfer printing emerges as one of the most efficient,cost-effective,and scalable methods.It boasts the ability for high-throughput fabrication of 0–3D micro-and nano-structures on flexible substrates,working in tandem with traditional lithography methods.This review highlights the critical issue of transfer printing:the flawless transfer of devices during the pick-up and printing process.We encapsulate recent advancements in numerous transfer printing techniques,with a particular emphasis on strategies to control adhesion forces at the substrate/device/stamp interfaces.These strategies are employed to meet the requirements of competing fractures for successful pick-up and print processes.The mechanism,advantages,disadvantages,and typical applications of each transfer printing technique will be thoroughly discussed.The conclusion section provides design guidelines and probes potential directions for future advancements.
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. RS-2024-00353768)the Yonsei Fellowship, funded by Lee Youn Jae. This study was funded by the KIST Institutional Program Project No. 2E31603-22-140 (K J Y). S M W acknowledges the support by National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (Grant Nos. NRF-2021R1C1C1009410, NRF2022R1A4A3032913 and RS-2024-00411904)
文摘Flexible electronics offer a multitude of advantages,such as flexibility,lightweight property,portability,and high durability.These unique properties allow for seamless applications to curved and soft surfaces,leading to extensive utilization across a wide range of fields in consumer electronics.These applications,for example,span integrated circuits,solar cells,batteries,wearable devices,bio-implants,soft robotics,and biomimetic applications.Recently,flexible electronic devices have been developed using a variety of materials such as organic,carbon-based,and inorganic semiconducting materials.Silicon(Si)owing to its mature fabrication process,excellent electrical,optical,thermal properties,and cost efficiency,remains a compelling material choice for flexible electronics.Consequently,the research on ultra-thin Si in the context of flexible electronics is studied rigorously nowadays.The thinning of Si is crucially important for flexible electronics as it reduces its bending stiffness and the resultant bending strain,thereby enhancing flexibility while preserving its exceptional properties.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent efforts in the fabrication techniques for forming ultra-thin Si using top-down and bottom-up approaches and explores their utilization in flexible electronics and their applications.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality(No.Z180011)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51991340,51991342,51972022,92163205,and 52188101)+2 种基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2016YFA0202701)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.FRF-TP-19-025A3)the Overseas Expertise Introduction Projects for Discipline Innovation(No.B14003)。
文摘Flexible electronics and optoelectronics exhibit inevitable trends in next-generation intelligent industries,including healthcare and wellness,electronic skins,the automotive industry,and foldable or rollable displays.Traditional bulk-material-based flexible devices considerably rely on lattice-matched crystal structures and are usually plagued by unavoidable chemical disorders at the interface.Two-dimensional van der Waals materials(2D VdWMs)have exceptional multifunctional properties,including large specific area,dangling-bond-free interface,plane-to-plane van der Waals interactions,and excellent mechanical,electrical,and optical properties.Thus,2D VdWMs have considerable application potential in functional intelligent flexible devices.To utilize the unique properties of 2D VdWMs and their van der Waals heterostructures,new designs and configurations of electronics and optoelectronics have emerged.However,these new designs and configurations do not consider lattice mismatch and process incompatibility issues.In this review,we summarized the recently reported 2D VdWM-based flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices with various functions thoroughly.Moreover,we identified the challenges and opportunities for further applications of 2D VdWM-based flexible electronics and optoelectronics.
基金Supported by the State Scholarship Fund of Chinathe Open Research Fund of Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multidimensional Information Processing of East China Normal University
文摘As a potential flexible substrate for flexible electronics, a polymer-sandwiched ultra-thin silicon platform is stud- ied. SU-8 photoresist coated on the silicon membrane improves its flexibility as shown by an ANSYS simulation. Using the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited Si02/Si3N4 composite film as an etching mask, a 4" silicon- (100) wafer is thinned to 26[tm without rupture in a 30wt.% KOH solution. The thinned wafer is coated on both sides with 20 pm of SU-8 photoresist and is cut into strips. Then the strips are bent by a caliper to measure its bending radius. A sector model of bending deformation is adopted to estimate the radius of curvature. The determined minimal bending radius of the polymer-sandwiched ultra-thin silicon layer is no more than 3.3mm. The fabrication process of this sandwich structure can be used as a post-fabrication process for high performance flexible electronics.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 11572022 and 11172022)
文摘Laminated hard-soft integrated structures play a significant role in the fabrication and development of flexible electronics devices. Flexible electronics have advantageous characteristics such as soft and light-weight, can be folded,twisted, flipped inside-out, or be pasted onto other surfaces of arbitrary shapes. In this paper, an analytical model is presented to study the mechanics of laminated hard-soft structures in flexible electronics under a stickup state. Thirdorder polynomials are used to describe the displacement field,and the principle of virtual work is adopted to derive the governing equations and boundary conditions. The normal strain and the shear stress along the thickness direction in the bimaterial region are obtained analytically, which agree well with the results from finite element analysis. The analytical model can be used to analyze stickup state laminated structures, and can serve as a valuable reference for the failure prediction and optimal design of flexible electronics in the future.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2018YFA0209302)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.21976177,22276191).
文摘Hydrogels electrolytes with flexibility and high conductivity have been widely used in kinds of flexible electronics.However,hydrogels always suffer from the inevitable freezing of water at subzero temperatures,which results in the sacrificing of their electrical properties.Herein,an anti-freezing,flexible hydrogel based on in situ reduction of graphene oxide(GO)and laponite has been developed as electrolyte for high performance supercapacitor and sensitive sensors.The crosslinked GO and laponite in polyacrylamide(PAM)resulted in an enhanced mechanical property,while the in-situ reduction of GO in the hydrogel enhanced the conductivity and diminishes the aggregated of GO.These features guarantee a reliable electro signal as sensor and a high performance of the supercapacitor.Besides,in the process of preparation of reduced graphene oxide(rGO)hydrogel,the addition of ethylene glycol(EG)and KOH,endows the hydrogel antifreeze properties.This anti-freezing electrolyte can be stretched to a strain of 1600%and maintained a specific capacitance of 37.38 F·g^(-1) at-20℃.In addition,the photothermal conversion character of rGO in the hydrogel,endows it’s the potential application in wound healing.The overall merits of the hydrogel will open up a new avenue for sensitive sensor and energy storage device in practical applications.
基金supported by National Key Research and Development Program(No.2022YFE0124200)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U2241221)+9 种基金J.P.thanks the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province for Excellent Young Scholars(YQ2022041)the fund(No.SKT2203)from the State Key Laboratories of Transducer TechnologyShanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology,Chinese Academy of Sciences for support.W.Z.thanks the Major Scientific and Technological Innovation Project of Shandong Province(2021CXGC010603)NSFC(No.52022037)Taishan Scholars Project Special Funds(TSQN201812083)The Project was supported by the Foundation(No.GZKF202107)of State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green PapermakingQilu University of Technology,Shandong Academy of Sciences.M.H.R.thanks NSFC(No.52071225)the National Science Center and the Czech Republic under the European Regional Development Fund(ERDF)“Institute of Environmental Technology-Excellent Research”(No.CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000853)the SinoGerman Center for Research Promotion(SGC)for support(No.GZ 1400).
文摘Flexible electronics has emerged as a continuously growing field of study.Two-dimensional(2D)materials often act as conductors and electrodes in elec-tronic devices,holding significant promise in the design of high-performance,flexible electronics.Numerous studies have focused on harnessing the potential of these materials for the development of such devices.However,to date,the incorporation of 2D materials in flexible electronics has rarely been summa-rized or reviewed.Consequently,there is an urgent need to develop compre-hensive reviews for rapid updates on this evolving landscape.This review covers progress in complex material architectures based on 2D materials,including interfaces,heterostructures,and 2D/polymer composites.Addition-ally,it explores flexible and wearable energy storage and conversion,display and touch technologies,and biomedical applications,together with integrated design solutions.Although the pursuit of high-performance and high-sensitivity instruments remains a primary objective,the integrated design of flexible electronics with 2D materials also warrants consideration.By combin-ing multiple functionalities into a singular device,augmented by machine learning and algorithms,we can potentially surpass the performance of existing wearable technologies.Finally,we briefly discuss the future trajectory of this burgeoning field.This review discusses the recent advancements in flex-ible sensors made from 2D materials and their applications in integrated archi-tecture and device design.
文摘Miniaturization and flexibility are becoming the trend in the development of electronic products. These key features are driving new methods in the manufacturing of such products. Printed electronics technology is a novel additive manufacturing technique that uses active inks to print onto a diverse set of substrates, realizing large-area, low-cost, flexible and green manufacturing of electronic products. These advantageous properties make it extremely compatible with flexible electronics fabrication and extend as far as offering revolutionary methods in the production of flexible electronic devices. In this paper, the details of a printing process system are introduced, including the materials that can be employed as inks, common substrates, and the most recently reported printing strategies. An assessment of future setbacks and developments of printed flexible electronics is also presented.
基金National Key Research and Development Program of China,Grant/Award Number:2018YFA0703200National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:52075209+1 种基金Innovation Project of Optics Valley Laboratory,Grant/Award Number:OVL2021BG007Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hubei province of China,Grant/Award Number:2022CFA066。
文摘Electrohydrodynamic(EHD)printing technique,which deposits micro/nanostructures through high electric force,has recently attracted significant research interest owing to their fascinating characteristics in high resolution(<1μm),wide material applicability(ink viscosity 1–10000 cps),tunable printing modes(electrospray,electrospinning,and EHD jet printing),and compatibility with flexible/wearable applications.Since the laboratory level of the EHD printed electronics'resolution and efficiency is gradually approaching the commercial application level,an urgent need for developing EHD technique from laboratory into industrialization have been put forward.Herein,we first discuss the EHD printing technique,including the ink design,droplet formation,and key technologies for promoting printing efficiency/accuracy.Then we summarize the recent progress of EHD printing in fabrication of displays,organic field-effect transistors(OFETs),transparent electrodes,and sensors and actuators.Finally,a brief summary and the outlook for future research effort are presented.
文摘This study employs theoretical analysis to explore the application prospects of flexible electronics technology in wearable devices. The research first reviews the development history and theoretical foundations of flexible electronics technology, including materials science, electronic engineering, and human-computer interaction theory. Through systematic analysis, the study evaluates the theoretical potential of flexible displays, flexible sensors, and flexible energy storage devices in wearable technology. The research finds that flexible electronics technology can significantly improve the comfort, functionality, and durability of wearable devices. Theoretical analysis indicates that flexible sensors have unique advantages in physiological monitoring and human-computer interaction, while flexible displays and batteries may revolutionize the form and usage patterns of wearable devices. However, the study also points out theoretical challenges faced by flexible electronics technology, such as material stability and feasibility of large-scale manufacturing. To address these challenges, the research proposes an interdisciplinary research framework, emphasizing the synergistic innovation of materials science, electronic engineering, and ergonomics. Finally, the study envisions the theoretical prospects of integrating flexible electronics with other emerging technologies, providing directions for future research.
基金the funding support from the fellowship of the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2022M722329, 2021M700097)the National Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of China (62125112)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (62071462, 62071463, 62271479, 22109173)the Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation (20224ACB212001)the support from Nano-X Vacuum Interconnected Workstation&Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems of Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO),Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
文摘Hydrogels offer tissue-like softness,stretchability,fracture toughness,ionic conductivity,and compatibility with biological tissues,which make them promising candidates for fabricating flexible bioelectronics.A soft hydrogel film offers an ideal interface to directly bridge thin-film electronics with the soft tissues.However,it remains difficult to fabricate a soft hydrogel film with an ultrathin configuration and excellent mechanical strength.Here we report a biological tissue-inspired ultrasoft microfiber composite ultrathin(<5μm)hydrogel film,which is currently the thinnest hydrogel film as far as we know.The embedded microfibers endow the composite hydrogel with prominent mechanical strength(tensile stress~6 MPa)and anti-tearing property.Moreover,our microfiber composite hydrogel offers the capability of tunable mechanical properties in a broad range,allowing for matching the modulus of most biological tissues and organs.The incorporation of glycerol and salt ions imparts the microfiber composite hydrogel with high ionic conductivity and prominent anti-dehydration behavior.Such microfiber composite hydrogels are promising for constructing attaching-type flexible bioelectronics to monitor biosignals.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51902101)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK20201381)+1 种基金Science Foundation of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications(No.NY219144)Postgraduate Research&Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province(No.SJCX22_0254).
文摘Flexible electronics technology is considered as a revolutionary technology to unlock the bottleneck of traditional rigid electronics that prevalent for decades,thereby fueling the next-generation electronics.In the past few decades,the research on flexible electronic devices based on organic materials has witnessed rapid development and substantial achievements,and inorganic semiconductors are also now beginning to shine in the field of flexible electronics.As validated by the latest research,some of the inorganic semiconductors,particularly those at low dimension,unexpectedly exhibited excellent mechanical flexibility on top of superior electrical properties.Herein,we bring together a comprehensive analysis on the recently burgeoning low-dimension inorganic semiconductor materials in flexible electronics,including one-dimensional(1D)inorganic semiconductor nanowires(NWs)and two-dimensional(2D)transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs).The fundamental electrical properties,optical properties,mechanical properties and strain engineering of materials,and their performance in flexible device applications are discussed in detail.We also propose current challenges and predict future development directions including material synthesis and device fabrication and integration.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52275346 and 52075287)Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program(20221080070).
文摘The recent wave of the artificial intelligence(AI)revolution has aroused unprecedented interest in the intelligentialize of human society.As an essential component that bridges the physical world and digital signals,flexible sensors are evolving from a single sensing element to a smarter system,which is capable of highly efficient acquisition,analysis,and even perception of vast,multifaceted data.While challenging from a manual perspective,the development of intelligent flexible sensing has been remarkably facilitated owing to the rapid advances of brain-inspired AI innovations from both the algorithm(machine learning)and the framework(artificial synapses)level.This review presents the recent progress of the emerging AI-driven,intelligent flexible sensing systems.The basic concept of machine learning and artificial synapses are introduced.The new enabling features induced by the fusion of AI and flexible sensing are comprehensively reviewed,which significantly advances the applications such as flexible sensory systems,soft/humanoid robotics,and human activity monitoring.As two of the most profound innovations in the twenty-first century,the deep incorporation of flexible sensing and AI technology holds tremendous potential for creating a smarter world for human beings.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22105106)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China(BK20210603)+1 种基金the Nanjing Science and Technology Innovation Project for overseas Students(NJKCZYZZ2022–05)the Start-up Funding from NUPTSF(NY221003)。
文摘Electrochromic technology has gained significant attention in various fields such as displays,smart windows,biomedical monitoring,military camouflage,human-machine interaction,and electronic skin due to its ability to provide reversible and fast color changes under applied voltage.With the rapid development and increasing demand for flexible electronics,flexible electrochromic devices(FECDs)that offer smarter and more controllable light modulation hold great promise for practical applications.The electrochromic material(ECM)undergoing color changes during the electrochemical reactions is one of the key components in electrochromic devices.Among the ECMs,viologens,a family of organic small molecules with 1,1'-disubstituted-4,4'-dipyridinium salts,have garnered extensive research interest,due to their well-reversible redox reactions,excellent electron acceptance ability,and the ability to produce multiple colors.Notably,viologen-based FECDs demonstrate color changes in the liquid or semisolid electrolyte layer,eliminating the need for two solid electrodes and thus simplifying the device structure.Consequently,viologens offer significant potential for the development of FECDs with high optical contrast,fast response speed,and excellent stability.This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the progress and perspectives of viologen-based FECDs.It begins by summarizing the typical structure and recent exciting developments in viologen-based FECDs,along with their advantages and disadvantages.Furthermore,the review discusses recent advancements in FECDs with additional functionalities such as sensing,photochromism,and energy storage.Finally,the remaining challenges and potential research directions for the future of viologen-based FECDs are addressed.
基金support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)[Grant No.11972325,12272342,12202398]the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(LGF20A020001).
文摘The rapid evolution of flexible electronic devices promises to revolutionize numerous fields by expanding the applications of smart devices.Nevertheless,despite this vast potential,the reliability of these innovative devices currently falls short,especially in light of demanding operation environment and the intrinsic challenges associated with their fabrication techniques.The heterogeneity in these processes and environments gives rise to unique failure modes throughout the devices'lifespan.To significantly enhance the reliability of these devices and assure long-term performance,it is paramount to comprehend the underpinning failure mechanisms thoroughly,thereby,enabling,optimal design solutions.A myriad of investigative efforts have been dedicated to unravel these failure mechanisms,utilizing a spectrum of tools from analytical models,numerical methods,to advanced characterization methods.This review delves into the root causes of device failure,scrutinizing both the fabrication process and the operation environment.Next,We subsequently address the failure mechanisms across four commonly observed modes:strength failure,fatigue failure,interfacial failure,and electrical failure,followed by an overview of targeted characterization methods associated with each mechanism.Concluding with an outlook,we spotlight ongoing challenges and promising directions for future research in our pursuit of highly resilient flexible electronic devices.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(11875138,52077095).
文摘High-performance ion-conducting hydrogels(ICHs)are vital for developing flexible electronic devices.However,the robustness and ion-conducting behavior of ICHs deteriorate at extreme tempera-tures,hampering their use in soft electronics.To resolve these issues,a method involving freeze–thawing and ionizing radiation technology is reported herein for synthesizing a novel double-network(DN)ICH based on a poly(ionic liquid)/MXene/poly(vinyl alcohol)(PMP DN ICH)system.The well-designed ICH exhibits outstanding ionic conductivity(63.89 mS cm^(-1) at 25℃),excellent temperature resistance(-60–80℃),prolonged stability(30 d at ambient temperature),high oxidation resist-ance,remarkable antibacterial activity,decent mechanical performance,and adhesion.Additionally,the ICH performs effectively in a flexible wireless strain sensor,thermal sensor,all-solid-state supercapacitor,and single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerator,thereby highlighting its viability in constructing soft electronic devices.The highly integrated gel structure endows these flexible electronic devices with stable,reliable signal output performance.In particular,the all-solid-state supercapacitor containing the PMP DN ICH electrolyte exhibits a high areal specific capacitance of 253.38 mF cm^(-2)(current density,1 mA cm^(-2))and excellent environmental adaptability.This study paves the way for the design and fabrication of high-performance mul-tifunctional/flexible ICHs for wearable sensing,energy-storage,and energy-harvesting applications.
基金supported by the National Science and Technology Innovation 2030 Major Project(Grant No.2022ZD0208601)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52105593 and 51975513)the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province,China(No.LR20E050003)。
文摘In the past decade,the global industry and research attentions on intelligent skin-like electronics have boosted their applications in diverse fields including human healthcare,Internet of Things,human–machine interfaces,artificial intelligence and soft robotics.Among them,flexible humidity sensors play a vital role in noncontact measurements relying on the unique property of rapid response to humidity change.This work presents an overview of recent advances in flexible humidity sensors using various active functional materials for contactless monitoring.Four categories of humidity sensors are highlighted based on resistive,capacitive,impedance-type and voltage-type working mechanisms.Furthermore,typical strategies including chemical doping,structural design and Joule heating are introduced to enhance the performance of humidity sensors.Drawing on the noncontact perception capability,human/plant healthcare management,human-machine interactions as well as integrated humidity sensor-based feedback systems are presented.The burgeoning innovations in this research field will benefit human society,especially during the COVID-19 epidemic,where cross-infection should be averted and contactless sensation is highly desired.
基金support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)the Canada Foundation for Innovation(CFI),and the Canada Research Chairs Program(H.Zeng).
文摘Flexible electronics have emerged as an exciting research area in recent years,serving as ideal interfaces bridging biological systems and conventional electronic devices.Flexible electronics can not only collect physiological signals for human health monitoring but also enrich our daily life with multifunctional smart materials and devices.Conductive hydrogels(CHs)have become promising candidates for the fabrication of flexible electronics owing to their biocompatibility,adjustable mechanical flexibility,good conductivity,and multiple stimuli-responsive properties.To achieve on-demand mechanical properties such as stretchability,compressibility,and elasticity,the rational design of polymer networks via modulating chemical and physical intermolecular interactions is required.Moreover,the type of conductive components(eg,electron-conductive materials,ions)and the incorporation method also play an important role in the conductivity of CHs.Electron-CHs usually possess excellent conductivity,while ion-CHs are generally transparent and can generate ion gradients within the hydrogel matrices.This mini review focuses on the recent advances in the design of CHs,introducing various design strategies for electron-CHs and ion-CHs employed in flexible electronics and highlighting their versatile applications such as biosensors,batteries,supercapacitors,nanogenerators,actuators,touch panels,and displays.
文摘Wearable electronics offer incredible benefits in mobile healthcare monitoring,sensing,portable energy harvesting and storage,human-machine interactions,etc.,due to the evolution of rigid electronics structure to flexible and stretchable devices.Lately,transition metal carbides and nitrides(MXenes)are highly regarded as a group of thriving two-dimensional nanomaterials and extraordinary building blocks for emerging flexible electronics platforms because of their excellent electrical conductivity,enriched surface functionalities,and large surface area.This article reviews the most recent developments in MXene-enabled flexible electronics for wearable electronics.Several MXeneenabled electronic devices designed on a nanometric scale are highlighted by drawing attention to widely developed nonstructural attributes,including 3D configured devices,textile and planer substrates,bioinspired structures,and printed materials.Furthermore,the unique progress of these nanodevices is highlighted by representative applications in healthcare,energy,electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding,and humanoid control of machines.The emerging prospects of MXene nanomaterials as a key frontier in nextgeneration wearable electronics are envisioned and the design challenges of these electronic systems are also discussed,followed by proposed solutions.
基金This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Nos. 2015CB932500 and 2013CB632702) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51302141). H. W. acknowledges the support from the 1000 Youth Talents Plan of China.
文摘Transparent electrodes are essential components for optoelectronic devices such as displays and thin-film solar cells. Traditionally, the deposition of transparent conducting layers and the sealing of the device are separate steps. Here we report on a highly transparent, conductive, and flexible "tape", which can be obtained by transferring silver nanowire networks to conventional transparent tape. We utilized the viscidity of the tape to reduce the junction resistance between silver nanowires and further protect the nanowires from corrosion, oxidation and mechanical damage. By this simple method, we obtained a flexible tape with high transparency (-90% at 550 nm wavelength) and low sheet resistance (approaching 22 Ω.sq^-1). The transparent tape can be attached and stuck firmly on complex surfaces, making the surface highly conductive. We demonstrated the use of the tape as both a conducting layer and a sealing layer for flexible electronics applications including in-situ temperature monitoring and electrochromic devices.