The present invention provides stretchable, and optionally printable, semiconductors and electronic circuits capable of providing good performance when stretched, compressed, flexed or otherwise deformed. Stretchable semiconductors and electronic circuits of the present invention 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 may be adapted to a wide range of device configurations to provide fully flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/311/5758/208.full.pdf

Stretchable form of single crystal silicon for high performance electronics on rubber substrates

An object is to provide a semiconductor device of which a manufacturing process is not complicated and by which cost can be suppressed, by forming a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor film typified by zinc oxide, and a manufacturing method thereof. For the semiconductor device, a gate electrode is formed over a substrate; a gate insulating film is formed covering the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film is formed over the gate insulating film; and a first conductive film and a second conductive film are formed over the oxide semiconductor film. The oxide semiconductor film has at least a crystallized region in a channel region.

Semiconductor device, and manufacturing method thereof

The present invention provides methods, systems and system components for transferring, assembling and integrating features and arrays of features having selected nanosized and/or microsized physical dimensions, shapes and spatial orientations. Methods of the present invention utilize principles of ‘soft adhesion’ to guide the transfer, assembly and/or integration of features, such as printable semiconductor elements or other components of electronic devices. Methods of the present invention are useful for transferring features from a donor substrate to the transfer surface of an elastomeric transfer device and, optionally, from the transfer surface of an elastomeric transfer device to the receiving surface of a receiving substrate. The present methods and systems provide highly efficient, registered transfer of features and arrays of features, such as printable semiconductor element, in a concerted manner that maintains the relative spatial orientations of transferred features.

Pattern Transfer Printing by Kinetic Control of Adhesion to an Elastomeric Stamp

The present invention provides device components geometries and fabrication strategies for enhancing the electronic performance of electronic devices based on thin films of randomly oriented or partially aligned semiconducting nanotubes. In certain aspects, devices and methods of the present invention incorporate a patterned layer of randomly oriented or partially aligned carbon nanotubes, such as one or more interconnected SWNT networks, providing a semiconductor channel exhibiting improved electronic properties relative to conventional nanotubes-based electronic systems.

Medium scale carbon nanotube thin film integrated circuits on flexible plastic substrates

A method, comprising: depositing (142) a first material over at least a portion of a substrate (102) by use of one or more solution processes to form a first material layer (108), at least a portion of said first material layer (108) comprising inorganic dielectric material; depositing (146) a second material over and/or in contact with said at least a portion of said first material layer (108) by use of one or more solution processes to form a second material layer (108), at least a portion of said second material layer (108) comprising organic dielectric material, to form at least a portion of a dielectric device layer; and altering (144, 148) said at least a portion of said first and/or said second material layer (108) at least in part.

Method of forming a solution processed device

An electrophoretic display comprises a fluid and a plurality of nanoparticles having diameters substantially less the wavelengths of visible light such that, when the nanoparticles are in a dispersed state and uniformly dispersed throughout the fluid, the fluid presents a first optical characteristic, but when the nanoparticles are in an aggregated state in which they are gathered into aggregates substantially larger than the individual nanoparticles, the fluid presents a second optical characteristic different from the first optical characteristic. The electrophoretic display further comprises at least one electrode arranged to apply an electric field to the nanoparticle-containing fluid and thereby move the nanoparticles between their dispersed and aggregated states. Various compound particles comprising multiple nanoparticles, alone or in combination with larger objects, and processes for the preparation of such compound particles, are also described.

Electrophoretic displays using nanoparticles

The invention relates to electro-optic displays and methods for driving such displays. The invention provides (i) electrochromic displays with solid charge transport layers; (ii) apparatus and methods for improving the contrast and reducing the cost of electrochromic displays; (iii) apparatus and methods for sealing electrochromic displays from the outside environment and preventing ingress of contaminants into such a display; and (iv) methods for adjusting the driving of electro-optic displays to allow for environmental and operating parameters.

Electro-optic displays, and methods for driving same

Systems and methods for producing thin film transistor structures useful in controlling electronic displays. Thin film transistors are fabricated using all-additive methods including printing techniques, soft lithography and material deposition methods. The thin film transistors can be deposited with the gate on the bottom or on the top of the structure. The deposition methods include the possibility of isolating nearly completely the transistor structure from the electronic display devices, so as to minimize or eliminate deleterious interactions therebetween.

Preferred methods for producing electrical circuit elements used to control an electronic display

Electronic devices such as transistors and diodes are manufactured by ink-jet printing using a transfer member. These electronic devices are used in addressing an electronic display.

Method for printing of transistor arrays on plastic substrates

A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.

Gregg M. Duthaler

Papers

Electrophoretic displays using nanoparticles

Electro-optic displays, and methods for driving same

Preferred methods for producing electrical circuit elements used to control an electronic display

Method for printing of transistor arrays on plastic substrates

Components and methods for use in electro-optic displays