Abstract:
A stretchable form of single crystal silicon for high performance electronics on rubber substrates is provided to enable various deformations such as stretching, crimping, and bending. A stretchable form of single crystal silicon for high performance electronics on rubber substrates includes a flexible substrate(705), and a bent semiconductor structure(715). The flexible substrate(705) is formed of a polymer and/or elastic material substrate having a support surface(710). The bent semiconductor structure(715) has a curved inner surface(720). At least a portion of the curved inner surface(720) of the bent semiconductor structure(715) is adhered to the support surface of the flexible substrate(705). The curved inner surface(705) can be adhered to the support surface(710) at the entire points along the inner surface(720).
Abstract:
Tissue-mounted devices and methods for monitoring a thermal transport property (e.g., thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, heat capacity) of tissue, such as skin, are disclosed. The devices conformally mount to the tissue and comprise one or more thermal actuators and a plurality of sensors. The actuator applies heat to the tissue and the sensors detect a spatio temporal distribution of a physiological tissue parameter or physical property resulting from the heating. This spatio temporal information may be correlated with a rate, velocity and/or direction of blood flow, the presence of a vascular occlusion, circulation changes due to inflammation, hydration level and other physiological parameters.
Abstract:
Methods for purifying a layer of carbon nanotubes comprise providing a precursor layer of substantially aligned carbon nanotubes supported by a substrate, wherein the precursor layer comprises a mixture of first carbon nanotubes and second carbon nanotubes; selectively heating the first carbon nanotubes; and separating the first carbon nanotubes from the second carbon nanotubes, thereby generating a purified layer of carbon nanotubes. Devices benefiting from enhanced electrical properties enabled by the purified layer of carbon nanotubes are also described.
Abstract:
Provided are devices and methods capable of interfacing with biological tissues, such as organs like the heart, in real-time and using techniques which provide the ability to monitor and control complex physical, chemical, biochemical and thermal properties of the tissues as a function of time. The described devices and methods utilize micro scale sensors and actuators to spatially monitor and control a variety of physical, chemical and biological tissue parameters, such as temperature, pH, spatial position, force, pressure, electrophysiology and to spatially provide a variety of stimuli, such as heat, light, voltage and current.
Abstract:
The invention provides transient devices, including active and passive devices that electrically and/or physically transform upon application of at least one internal and/or external stimulus. Materials, modeling tools, manufacturing approaches, device designs and system level embodiments of transient electronics are provided.
Abstract:
The present invention provides electronic systems, including device arrays, comprising functional device(s) and/or device component(s) at least partially enclosed via one or more containment chambers, such that the device(s) and/or device component(s) are at least partially, and optionally entirely, immersed in a containment fluid. Useful containment fluids for use in containment chambers of electronic devices of the invention include lubricants, electrolytes and/or electronically resistive fluids. In some embodiments, for example, electronic systems of the invention comprise one or more electronic devices and/or device components provided in free-standing and/or tethered configurations that decouple forces originating upon deformation, stretching or compression of a supporting substrate from the free standing or tethered device or device component.
Abstract:
In an aspect, the present invention provides stretchable, and optionally printable, components such as semiconductors and electronic circuits capable of providing good performance when stretched, compressed, flexed or otherwise deformed, and related methods of making or tuning such stretchable components. Stretchable semiconductors and electronic circuits preferred for some applications are flexible, in addition to being stretchable, and thus are capable of significant elongation, flexing, bending or other deformation along one or more axes. Further, stretchable semiconductors and electronic circuits of the present invention are adapted to a wide range of device configurations to provide fully flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Abstract:
The present invention provides arrays of longitudinally aligned carbon nanotubes having specified positions, nanotube densities and orientations, and corresponding methods of making nanotube arrays using guided growth and guided deposition methods. Also provided are electronic devices and device arrays comprising one or more arrays of longitudinally aligned carbon nanotubes including multilayer nanotube array structures and devices.
Abstract:
Skin-mounted or epidermal devices and methods for monitoring biofluids are disclosed. The devices comprise a functional substrate that is mechanically and/or thermally matched to skin to provide durable adhesion for long-term wear. The functional substrates allow for the microfluidic transport of biofluids from the skin to one or more sensors that measure and/or detect biological parameters, such as rate of biofluid production, biofluid volume, and biomarker concentration. Sensors within the devices may be mechanical, electrical or chemical, with colorimetric indicators being observable by the naked eye or with a portable electronic device (e.g., a smartphone). By monitoring changes in an individual's health state over time, the disclosed devices may provide early indications of abnormal conditions.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a high yield pathway for the fabrication, transfer and assembly of high quality printable semiconductor elements having selected physical dimensions, shapes, compositions and spatial orientations. The compositions and methods of the present invention provide high precision registered transfer and integration of arrays of microsized and/or nanosized semiconductor structures onto substrates, including large area substrates and/or flexible substrates. In addition, the present invention provides methods of making printable semiconductor elements from low cost bulk materials, such as bulk silicon wafers, and smart-materials processing strategies that enable a versatile and commercially attractive printing-based fabrication platform for making a broad range of functional semiconductor devices.