Stretchable Organic Transistor Integrated Circuit Using Elastic Conductors

摘要

We successfully developed elastic conductors using mm-long single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) [1] as a conducting dopant. SWNTs were uniformly dispersed as chemically stable dopants in a vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer matrix by using an ionic liquid of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide,and manufactured SWNT composite films [2,3]. The measured value of conductivity is as high as 57 S/cm. Such high conductivity is achieved because the content of SWNTs in the conductor can be increased up to 20 wt% without sacrificing mechanical flexibility and softness. The SWNT elastic conductor can be stretched to approximately 134% of its original size without significant mechanical damage. We have also successfully fabricated rubber-like stretchable integrated circuits (ICs). The abovementioned elastic conductors are integrated with organic transistors,which are fabricated by state-of-the-art printing processes,and are then used as wirings in large-area stretchable ICs. These ICs,which have a high electronic performance,can be stretched by up to 70% without any degradation in their mechanical or electronic properties. This is an important step in the development of ICs that can be used on freely curved surfaces and in smart surfaces [4,5]. Subsequently,it will be possible to develop an intelligent surface that will be able to interact with people,objects,and the environment in new ways.