Study of Electronic Platforms with Controlled Stretchability

As a newly developed technology, wearable electronics is rapidly emerging and achieving a great variety of applications in health monitoring systems such as wristbands and body-mounted sensors that monitor and transmit biological data for healthcare purposes. The primary stage in developing wearable electronics is the design and fabrication of soft and stretchable substrates for these electronics, such that the flexibility and stretchability of the substrate would allow conformity of the device to the body without hindering movement. The key challenge in realizing soft and stretchable substrates is controlling the stretchability while maintaining sufficient physical properties for the construction of the electronic device. In this study, biocompatible composite structures based on polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene oxide with controllable stretchability are investigated and presented. The composite structures also proved degradability in aqueous solutions, a highly desirable feature in terms of environmental impacts and decreasing the electronic waste in landfills. Experimental results show that the addition of plasticizer to the polymer matrix can be utilized as a means to control the stretchability of the composite. Additionally, the effect of thermal stress on the performance under static and dynamic loading is studied and presented.