Freestanding Membranes for Unique Functionality in Electronics

Epitaxy of single-crystalline materials laid the foundation for numerous electronics as a core technology. Nevertheless, because the single-crystalline epilayers are covalently bonded to substrates, only limited applications were explored. The recent development of layer transfer techniques has suggested another way involving the production of freestanding membranes that are free from substrates. In this review, we comprehensively catalog recent advances for freestanding-membrane-based electronics from transistors and memory storage to sensors and energy harvesters. We highlight their unique advantages, including flexibility, unique physical coupling, heterointegrability, and costeffectiveness, and summarize their challenges and perspectives.

Automated summary

Epitaxy of single-crystalline materials laid the foundation for electronics, but limited applications were explored due to covalent bonding of epilayers to substrates. The development of layer transfer techniques has provided another approach by producing freestanding membranes. This review comprehensively catalogs recent advances in freestanding-membrane-based electronics and highlights their unique advantages, challenges, and perspectives.