stretchable silicon

Stretchable silicon is a flexible form of silicon manufactured in thin, wavelike ribbons that can be expanded and compressed like accordion bellows. The ribbons are approximately 100 nanometers thick and are placed on a rubber substrate.

Silicon is a chemical element plentiful in rocks and sand. It is a semiconductor material extensively used in electronic components such as diode s and integrated circuit s.

Stretchable silicon has potentially far-reaching applications. Scientists believe it could be used to manufacture pliable versions of a wide range of products, including:

• memory chips
• microprocessor s
• smart clothes
• sensors
• photovoltaic cell s
• electronic paper
• electonic newspaper s
• ultra-thin rollable computer display s
• skins for artificial limbs.

A manufacturing process for stretchable silicon diode s has been developed by researchers working for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The evolution of more sophisticated stretchable semiconductor devices is expected to take several years.

Last updated on: Jun 28, 2006

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