Flexible Electronics: A Critical Review

Progressive changes are occurring at an unprecedented rate in the field of electronics, science, and technology. The conviction and evolutionary development of flexible electronics have been incredibly witnessed in recent years. Flexible electronics or flex circuits refer to technology that can be mounted onto the adaptable substrate. Flexible electronics comprises varying splendid properties such as flexibility, bending, rolling, folding, and stretching without losing its functionality. These characteristics are not fulfilled by present conventional electronic-based systems. Flexible electronics is highly beneficial in varying applications and used in several upcoming devices such as wearable gadgets, medical and industrial products, flexible sensors, and displays. Evolvement of flexible electronics has led to extensive research and development in flexible substrates and stretchable interconnects. Flexible substrate holds the flexible electronics. The substrate materials can be conductive polymers, organic semiconductors, graphene derivatives, and amorphous silicon. Further, to withstand large deformation, stretchable interconnects provide the overall flexibility to the electronic system. The interconnects are the connection between various components to transmit and receive signals. The foremost challenge in developing flexible electronics is not to lose electrical functionality of the stretchable interconnect along with providing good mechanical stability. The purpose of this chapter is to review and address various flexible electronics modules such as components required, relevant materials, interconnect geometries, its electrical and mechanical properties, printing techniques along with its promising applications. Finally, the market growth and potential future research directions have also been discussed in the chapter.