Printable Dielectric for Flexible Hybrid Electronics

The goal for this Phase I research is to develop a stretchable dielectric ink that can be used for flexible applications. Printing electronics is a new and quickly growing alternative to traditionally manufactured electronics. Flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) is a novel approach to electronic circuit manufacturing that aims to combine the best of printed and conventional electronics. FHE devices include stretchable and wearable electronic devices. Although the benefits of FHEs promising, wearable electronics and un-foldable / expandable components are difficult to design because of poor compatibility between hard electronics and soft/flexible textiles. Most conducting materials suffer from hysteresis and resistance changes under strain. Both resistance and inductance change as the user moves with respect to any wiring, which results in unreliable signal fidelity. ChemCubed has successfully demonstrated the development of stretchable conductive ink, and successfully demonstrated the integration of carbon nanotubes into a dielectric ink. The proposed project will build on these successful efforts to develop a stretchable dielectric ink.