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Physics 2021-06-25

Unbroken: New soft electronics don't break, even when punctured

'We're excited about our progress and envision these materials as key components for emerging soft technologies'
Unbroken: New soft electronics don't break, even when punctured
Want a smartphone that stretches, takes damage, and still doesn't miss a call?

A team of Virginia Tech researchers from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Macromolecules Innovation Institute has created a new type of soft electronics, paving the way for devices that are self-healing, reconfigurable, and recyclable. These skin-like circuits are soft and stretchy, sustain numerous damage events under load without losing electrical conductivity, and can be recycled to generate new circuits at the end of a product's life.

Led by Assistant Professor Michael Bartlett, the team recently published its findings in END