Semiconductor nanomaterials for bio-integrated electronics

Electronic/optoelectronic systems that involve transistors, solar cells, light emitting diodes, photodetectors and other components on thin plastic or rubber substrates offer mechanical properties (e.g. stretchability) and other features (e.g. curvilinear shapes) that cannot be achieved with conventional approaches. Examples of application possibilities include devices that use biologically inspired designs (e.g. eyeball cameras) or those that require intimate integration with the human body (e.g. health monitors). This talk describes the use of inorganic nanomaterials in systems that offer the performance of state-of-the-art, wafer-based technologies but with the mechanical properties of a rubber band. We explain the materials science and mechanics of these approaches, and aspects of their use in bio-integrated electronics designed for monitoring the brain and heart, with demonstration experiments on animal models.