Stretchable Optoelectronics and Applications in Hemispherical Electronic Eye Imagers

目标：这项拟议的研究将创造可以可逆拉伸或压缩到大应变的电子和光电系统，同时提供与应变无关的电气性能，达到基于脆性半导体晶片的最先进设备的水平。这些系统将利用配置成结构形状的无机半导体纳米材料，这些结构形状可以在几何上适应大的机械变形，而不会在材料本身产生显著的应变。全面的理论模型将提供对这些系统物理的基本了解，并指导能够消除机械应变对设备性能影响的系统设计。智能价值：科学和工程方面的推动力包括：1)半导体纳米材料在半导体晶片以外的衬底上制造高质量的电子和光电设备。这些材料将使用转印技术与超薄的聚合物薄片集成在一起。2)弹性转移元件和衬底，将这些纳米材料和器件从最初的平面构型转变为各种屈曲、曲线和“波状”形状，以实现可拉伸/可压缩的机械响应。3)分析和计算模型，以了解这些纳米材料中与应变引起的变形相关的物理现象。更广泛的影响：拟议方法的成功开发将创造具有广泛应用可能性的全新的电子和光电子系统类别。这些系统的广泛吸引力不仅为研究生和本科生提供了极好的教育机会，也为对新技术感兴趣的更广泛的社区提供了良好的教育机会。科学/技术博物馆的互动展示将成为外展活动的重点。

Objectives: The proposed research will create electronic and optoelectronic systems that can be reversibly stretched or compressed to large strains, while providing strain-independent electrical performance at the level of state-of-the-art devices built on brittle semiconductor wafers. These systems will exploit inorganic semiconductor nanomaterials configured into structural shapes that can geometrically accommodate large mechanical deformations without imparting significant strains in the materials themselves. Comprehensive theoretical models will provide a basic understanding of the physics of these systems, and guide design of systems capable of eliminating the influence of mechanical strains on device performance.Intellectual Merit: The scientific and engineering thrusts include: 1) Semiconductor nanomaterials to build high quality electronic and optoelectronic devices on substrates other than semiconductor wafers. These materials will be integrated with ultrathin polymer sheets using transfer printing techniques. 2) Elastomeric transfer elements and substrates to transform these nanomaterials and devices from their initial planar configurations into various buckled, curvilinear and "wavy" shapes needed to achieve stretchable/compressible mechanical response. 3) Analytical and computational models to understand the physics associated with strain-induced deformations in these nanomaterials. Broader Impact: Successful development of the proposed approaches will create entirely new classes of electronic and optoelectronic systems, with wide-ranging application possibilities. The broad appeal of these systems provides excellent educational opportunities not only for graduate and undergraduate students, but also for the wider community interested in new technology. Interactive displays at science/technology museums will form a focus of outreach activities.