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Stretchable active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display using printable elastic conductors

Nature Materials volume 8, pages 494–499 (2009)Cite this article

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.

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Figure 1: Printable elastic conductors.
Figure 2: Electrical and mechanical characteristics of printed elastic conductors.
Figure 3: Stretchable display cells comprising an organic LED and a 2T1C driving cell.
Figure 4: Luminance of a stretchable display.

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Acknowledgements

This study was partially supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI; WAKATE S), and the Special Coordination Funds for Promoting and Technology. We thank K. Asaka, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, for valuable discussion. We also thank GENESIS for designing the Multi channel display driving system (G08MN0029), DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, for generous supply of fluorinated copolymer, and Daisankasei for a high-purity parylene (diX-SR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Quantum-Phase Electronics Center, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

    Tsuyoshi Sekitani & Takao Someya

  2. R&D Center, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd, 250-1 Wakashiba, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba-ken 277-0871, Japan

    Hiroyoshi Nakajima & Hiroki Maeda

  3. Functional Soft Matter Engineering Laboratory, Advanced Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan

    Takanori Fukushima

  4. Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

    Takanori Fukushima & Takuzo Aida

  5. 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

    Takuzo Aida

  6. Research Center for Advanced Carbon Materials, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan

    Kenji Hata

  7. Institute for Nano Quantum Information Electronics, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan

    Takao Someya

  8. Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

    Takao Someya

Authors
  1. Tsuyoshi Sekitani
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  2. Hiroyoshi Nakajima
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  4. Takanori Fukushima
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Contributions

T.Se. and T.So. planned the project and data analysis. T.Se., H.N., H.M, T.F., T.A., K.H. and T.So carried out experimental work. (T.Se., T.F., T.A., T.So.: elastic conductors; T.Se. and T.So.: organic transistors; H.N. and H.M.: organic LEDs; K.H.: carbon nanotubes.)

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takao Someya.

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Sekitani, T., Nakajima, H., Maeda, H. et al. Stretchable active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display using printable elastic conductors. Nature Mater 8, 494–499 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat2459

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