Paper: A promising material for human-friendly functional wearable electronics

Publication date: February 2017 Source:Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports, Volume 112 Author(s): Hao Liu, Huaibin Qing, Zedong Li, Yu Long Han, Min Lin, Hui Yang, Ang Li, Tian Jian Lu, Fei Li, Feng Xu The ever-growing overlap between electronics and wearable technology is driving the demand for utilizing novel materials that are cost-effective, light-weight, eco-friendly, mechanically deformable and can be conformably and comfortably worn on human body as substrate to support the reliable operation of wearable electronic functionalities. Paper materials comprised of bio-origin ingredients (e.g., cellulose and carbon derivatives) have recently attracted remarkably increasing research and commercial interests for prototyping next-generation wearable electronics due to their superiorities including natural abundance, flyweight, mature manufacturing process, specific structural properties, favorable mechanical bendability, biocompatibility and nontoxicity over their counterparts. Feasibility of engaging paper materials has been proved by outstanding performances in body-worn healthcare sensing systems, electro-stimulated artificial muscles, on-site memory storage and wearable power supply on paper substrate. In this review, we present a state-of-the-art introduction of diverse paper substrate options and fabrication techniques employed for realizing paper electronics, and discuss both pros and cons of each manufacturing tactic. Additionally, we summarize de...
Source: Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports - Category: Materials Science Source Type: research