On-Demand Transient Paper Substrate for Selective Disposability of Thin-Film Electronic Devices

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2023 Jul 12;15(27):32814-32823. doi: 10.1021/acsami.3c03214. Epub 2023 Jun 27.

Abstract

This study demonstrates a novel approach to creating a thin-film electronic device that offers selective or complete disposability only in on-demand conditions while maintaining stable operation reliability during everyday use. The approach involves a transient paper substrate, combined with phase change encapsulation and highly bendable planarization materials, achieved through a simple solution process. The substrate used in this study offers a smooth surface morphology that enables the creation of stable multilayers for thin-film electronic devices. It also exhibits superior waterproof properties, which allows the proof-of-concept organic light-emitting device to function even when submerged in water. Additionally, the substrate provides controlled surface roughness under repeated bending, demonstrating reliable folding stability for 1000 cycles at 10 mm of curvature. Furthermore, a specific component of the electronic device can be selectively made to malfunction through predetermined voltage input, and the entire device can be fully disposed of via Joule-heating-induced combustion.

Keywords: OLED; paper substrate; polysilsesquioxane; transient electronics; waterproof; |disposability.