Home > News > Stretchy electronics
January 1st, 2008
Stretchy electronics
Abstract:
Nokia, for example, is collaborating with Stéphanie Lacour, of the University of Cambridge's Nanoscience Centre, to develop a way of depositing gold films onto elastomers (elastic polymers), so that such films become stretchy as well as bendable. Normally, a gold film will fracture if stretched by as little as 1-2% of its original length. Dr Lacour's stretchy metal film, however, contains an array of tiny Y-shaped cracks. When it is pulled, the cracks open up and the film remains intact. If silicon chips a few hundred microns across were embedded in the elastomer as well, the film should provide a reliable way of wiring them together to produce a useful electronic device.
Such "stretchable electronic skin", as Nokia dubs it, is intended, initially, to provide a touch-sensitive way of talking to machines. If it were turned into a screen, stabbing your finger harder on an icon on that screen could make something happen faster.
Tapani Ryhänen, Nokia's head of strategic research, suggests that stretchable devices, worn on the body, could be used to detect and transmit information about the wearer, such as to measure emotional states. And what about an entire body suit made from flexible electronics and sensors? That would be the ultimate Nintendo Wii game controller.
Source:
economist.com
Bookmark:
| Related News Press |
News and information
Quantum computer improves AI predictions April 17th, 2026
Flexible sensor gains sensitivity under pressure April 17th, 2026
A reusable chip for particulate matter sensing April 17th, 2026
Detecting vibrational quantum beating in the predissociation dynamics of SF6 using time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy April 17th, 2026
Chip Technology
A reusable chip for particulate matter sensing April 17th, 2026
Metasurfaces smooth light to boost magnetic sensing precision January 30th, 2026
Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals/White papers/Posters
A fundamentally new therapeutic approach to cystic fibrosis: Nanobody repairs cellular defect April 17th, 2026
UC Irvine physicists discover method to reverse ‘quantum scrambling’ : The work addresses the problem of information loss in quantum computing system April 17th, 2026
Textiles/Clothing
Protective equipment with graphene nanotubes meets the strictest ESD safety standards March 25th, 2022
Polymer fibers with graphene nanotubes make it possible to heat hard-to-reach, complex-shaped items February 11th, 2022
Flexible material shows potential for use in fabrics to heat, cool July 3rd, 2020
Human Interest/Art
New 2D multifractal tools delve into Pollock's expressionism January 17th, 2025
Drawing data in nanometer scale September 30th, 2022
Scientists prepare for the world’s smallest race: Nanocar Race II March 18th, 2022
Graphene nanotubes revolutionize touch screen use for prosthetic hands August 3rd, 2021
 |
||
 |
||
| The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
 |
||
|
|
||
| Premium Products | ||
 |
||
|
Only the news you want to read!
Learn More |
||
 |
||
|
Full-service, expert consulting
Learn More |
||
|
|
||