Ultra-Strong, Stretchable Electronics Inspired by Kirigami Paper-Cutting Art

A University at Buffalo  -led research team was inspired by the ancient paper-cutting art of kirigami when building malleable electronic circuits. Their innovation — creating tiny sheets of strong yet bendable electronic materials made of select polymers and nanowires — could lead to improvements in smart clothing, electronic skin, and other applications that require pliable circuitry.

Transcript

00:00:00 [This electronic conductor is super flexible] [It can stretch up to 2,000% from its original shape] [That makes it ideal for wearable tech...] [...wearable tech...] [...bendable display screens...] [...electronic skin] [UB researchers were inspired by kirigami, a variation of origami] [To make the conductor, researchers combine polymers and nanowires] [Then transfer the result to paper] [After it dries, they cut the kirigami pattern with a laser]

00:00:26 [Now the conductor can stretch what's possible]