Three-Dimensional Transformation of Membrane-Type Electronics Using Transient Microfluidic Channels for the Sequential Selective Plasticization of Supportive Plastic Substrates

This study demonstrates a technique for the development of 3D electronics based on planar membrane-type devices and a supportive plastic (e.g., acrylonitrile butadiene styrene [ABS] used in this study) substrate containing internal microfluidic channels (mu-FCs) that allow selective plasticization and transformation after the insertion of a liquid plasticizer (e.g., N,N-dimethylformamide). The internal mu-FC has a strong advantage of transiency and does not require an additional removal process because the channels are self-closed by the swelling and dissolution of the plasticized regions. Furthermore, the 3D printing process to create internal mu-FCs provides a considerable amount of freedom in channel design for sequential plasticization and transformation into complex structures. Using this method, extreme scenarios that involve complete bending of the metal electrodes and indium gallium zinc oxide thin-film transistors laminated to the ABS substrates without electrical failure are possible, regardless of the bending direction and the vertical position of the electrode of the plastic substrate. Finally, a truncated octahedral light-emitting diode display is successfully developed by multiple cycles of sequential plasticization and transformation processes to demonstrate the feasibility of this method.

Automated summary

This study presents a technique for developing 3D electronics using planar membrane-type devices and a plastic substrate with internal microfluidic channels. The technique allows for selective plasticization and transformation of the substrate, and the self-closing channels eliminate the need for additional removal processes. The 3D printing process provides design flexibility for creating complex structures. The method enables extreme bending of metal electrodes and thin-film transistors without electrical failure, and a truncated octahedral LED display was successfully developed to demonstrate the feasibility of the technique.