Mechanics and thermal management of stretchable inorganic electronics

Natl Sci Rev. 2016 Mar;3(1):128-143. doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwv078. Epub 2015 Nov 26.

Abstract

Stretchable electronics enables lots of novel applications ranging from wearable electronics, curvilinear electronics to bio-integrated therapeutic devices that are not possible through conventional electronics that is rigid and flat in nature. One effective strategy to realize stretchable electronics exploits the design of inorganic semiconductor material in a stretchable format on an elastomeric substrate. In this review, we summarize the advances in mechanics and thermal management of stretchable electronics based on inorganic semiconductor materials. The mechanics and thermal models are very helpful in understanding the underlying physics associated with these systems, and they also provide design guidelines for the development of stretchable inorganic electronics.

Keywords: buckling; inorganic semiconductor material; stretchable electronics; thin film.