Bio-inspired material holds promise for stretchable electronics

The team, from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, created the material from bonded layers of polyurethane, which contain 'islands' stiff enough to house and protect delicate circuits. Lead researcher Andre Studart explained: "While the soft part can stretch by 350%, the stiff regions created by impregnating the material with tiny platelets of aluminum oxide and a synthetic clay called laponite, hardly deform and can protect the electronics." Because the concentration of the platelets is gradually increased, Studart says the junction between the stretchy and stiff parts is also durable. He continued: "There are many biological materials that have these properties as well, like the way tendons link muscle to bone. But there are not so many examples in synthetic materials." The researchers believe the technology could be applied to the monitoring and management of chronic diseases, from diabetes to hypertension. The technique could also be used to build synthetic cartilage or false teeth with better matches to their natural counterparts, Studart says. He concluded: "The vision is that you will be able to make materials that are as heterogeneous as the biological ones."