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 diodes and integrated circuits.

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
• microprocessors
• smart clothes
• sensors
• photovoltaic cells
• electronic paper
• electronic newspapers
• ultra-thin rollable computer displays
• skins for artificial limbs.

A manufacturing process for stretchable silicon diodes 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.