Solid State and Optics Seminar

Wednesday, December 7, 2005

1:00 p.m.

107 Mason Lab

"Flexible, Shapeable, and Stretchable Electronic Surfaces"

Prof. Sigurd Wagner
Princeton University
Dept. of Electrical Engineering and PRISM

Abstract

Flat-panel displays have become a tremendous commercial success. They are encouraging research on other large-area electronic surfaces which, broadly speaking, are human-sized integrated circuits. Concepts range from •flexible displays to •conformally-shaped solar cells to •electronic textiles to •sensitive skin. Recent experiments suggest that all of these concepts are actually doable. Working out the underlying science and technology makes one walk through an experimenter’s paradise. (A few theorists will get their satisfaction, too!) I will illustrate what distinguishes flexible electronics from conventional, wafer or glass-based, integrated circuits. The differences may be qualitative, as in uncommon combinations of materials (silicon on plastic), or in electro-mechanical behavior that goes from the unusual to the curious (elastic metal). Other differences are quantitative, for instance, the fabrication processes, and the prominence of thermo-mechanical properties that is reflected in budgets for differential thermal expansion. With this seminar I want to draw your attention to a new, dynamic, and attractive research direction for integrated circuit technology..

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