Investigation of the Stretchability of Specific Elastomeric Materials and their Application in Organic Electronics

新的技术和方法正在不断发展，以超越目前的性能限制的硅基电子产品。这导致了现代电子学的一个新时代的兴起，这个时代的基础是那些精确的行为可以直接通过它们的化学结构来定制的材料。通过突破化学工程和合成化学的极限，人们获得了具有优异电子性能的溶液处理材料。然而，由这些材料制成的设备具有较低的机械应力耐受性，限制了它们用于下一代可穿戴电子产品和传感器的潜力，这将需要增强的机械灵活性。通过他们的研发活动，合作伙伴公司开发了具有许多有趣特性的新型聚乙烯基材料（PE），包括低粘度和沸点，以及低玻璃化转变温度（Tg），这对于可拉伸电子器件特别有吸引力。为了推动电子器件的发展，采用这些新材料，需要精确和准确的表征材料的机械性能。此外，材料与其他器件组件（电极、半导体等）之间的兼容性也很好。这项合作研究项目的目的是通过各种表征技术研究和测试合作伙伴公司最近开发的新型聚乙烯基材料的机械性能，并测试其与半导体聚合物和其他可拉伸电子元件的兼容性。这将通过几种表面和仪器表征来完成，包括原子力显微镜（AFM）和X射线衍射（XRD）。Rondeau-Gagnégroup开发的专业知识将允许对合作伙伴公司开发的新材料的机械性能进行全面调查。此外，研究目标的完成将为公司带来新的机遇，特别是通过一个有前途的产品的价值。

New techniques and methodologies are constantly being developed to surpass the current performance limits ofsilicon-based electronics. This has led to the rise of a new era in modern electronics based on materials whoseprecise behaviour can be tailored directly through their chemical structure. By pushing the limits of bothchemical engineering and synthetic chemistry, solution-processed materials with excellent electronic propertieshave been obtained. However, devices built from these materials suffer from low mechanical stress tolerance,limiting their potential for next generation wearable electronics and sensors, which will require enhancedmechanical flexibilityThrough their R&D activities, the partner company developed new polyethylene-based materials (PE)possessing many interesting properties, including low-viscosity and boiling point, and low glass transitiontemperature (Tg), which are particularly attractive for stretchable electronics. In order to move forward with thedevelopment of electronic devices incorporating these new materials, a precise and accurate characterization ofthe mechanical properties of the materials is required. Moreover, the compatibility between the materials andother devices' components (electrodes, semiconductor, etc.) is important to assess.The objective of this collaborative research project is to investigate and test the mechanical properties of newpolyethylene-based materials, recently developed by the partner company, through various characterizationtechniques and test their compatibility with semiconducting polymers and other stretchable electroniccomponents. This will be accomplished through several surface and instrumental characterizations, includingatomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The expertise developed by the Rondeau-Gagnégroup will allow for a complete investigation of the mechanical properties of the new materials developed bythe partner company. Furthermore, the completion of the research objectives will bring new opportunities forthe company, especially through the valorization of a promising product.