Stretchable Displays

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have moved a step closer to displays and simple computers that you can wear on your sleeve or wrap around your couch. And they have opened up the possibility of printing such devices, which would make them cheap. Researchers make a stretchable display by connecting organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic transistors with a new rubbery conductor. The researchers can spread the display over a curved surface without affecting performance. The display can also be folded in half or crumpled up without incurring any damage. In a previous prototype, researchers used their elastic conductor--a mix of carbon nanotubes and rubber--to make a stretchy electronic circuit.

The new version of the conductor is significantly more conductive and can stretch to more than twice its original size. Combined with printable transistors and OLEDs, this could pave the way for rolling out large, cheap, wearable displays and electronics. Bendy, flexible electronics that can be rolled up like paper are already available. But rubber-like stretchable electronics offer the additional advantage that they can cover complex three-dimensional objects. To make such materials, researchers have tried several approaches. In one approach, ultrathin silicon sheets are used to make complex circuits on stretchy surfaces. Others have made elastic conductors using graphene sheets or by combining gold and rubbery polymers. The new carbon nanotube conductor offers the advantage of being printable.

More information:

http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/22632/