Transparent functional oxide stretchable electronics: Micro-tectonics enabled high strain electrodes

Abstract

Fully transparent and flexible electronic substrates that incorporate functional materials are the precursors to realising nextgeneration devices with sensing, self-powering and portable functionalities. Here, we demonstrate a universal process for transferring planar, transparent functional oxide thin films on to elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates. This process overcomes the challenge of incorporating high-temperature-processed crystalline oxide materials with low-temperature organic substrates.The functionality of the process is demonstrated using indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films to realise fully transparent and flexible resistors. The ITO thin films on PDMS are shown to withstand uniaxial strains of 15%, enabled by microstructure tectonics. Furthermore, zinc oxide was transferred to display the versatility of this transfer process. Such a ubiquitous process for the transfer of functional thin films to elastomeric substrates will pave the way for touch sensing and energy harvesting for displays and electronics with flexible and transparent characteristics. © 2013 Nature Publishing Group.