Article abstract
Nature Materials 8, 494 - 499 (2009)
Published online: 10 May 2009 | doi:10.1038/nmat2459
Subject Categories: Polymers | Electronic materials | Optical, photonic and optoelectronic materials
Stretchable active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display using printable elastic conductors
Tsuyoshi Sekitani1, Hiroyoshi Nakajima2, Hiroki Maeda2, Takanori Fukushima3,4, Takuzo Aida4,5, Kenji Hata6 & Takao Someya1,7,8
Abstract
Stretchability will significantly expand the applications scope of electronics, particularly for large-area electronic displays, sensors and actuators. Unlike for conventional devices, stretchable electronics can cover arbitrary surfaces and movable parts. However, a large hurdle is the manufacture of large-area highly stretchable electrical wirings with high conductivity. Here, we describe the manufacture of printable elastic conductors comprising single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) uniformly dispersed in a fluorinated rubber. Using an ionic liquid and jet-milling, we produce long and fine SWNT bundles that can form well-developed conducting networks in the rubber. Conductivity of more than 100 S cm-1 and stretchability of more than 100% are obtained. Making full use of this extraordinary conductivity, we constructed a rubber-like stretchable active-matrix display comprising integrated printed elastic conductors, organic transistors and organic light-emitting diodes. The display could be stretched by 30–50% and spread over a hemisphere without any mechanical or electrical damage.
- Quantum-Phase Electronics Center, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- R&D Center, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd, 250-1 Wakashiba, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba-ken 277-0871, Japan
- Functional Soft Matter Engineering Laboratory, Advanced Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Nanospace Project, Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology–Solution Oriented Research for Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, 2-41 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
- Research Center for Advanced Carbon Materials, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan
- Institute for Nano Quantum Information Electronics, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Correspondence to: Takao Someya1,7,8 e-mail: someya@ee.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
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