Elastomeric substrates with embedded stiff platforms for stretchable electronics

Stretchable electronics typically integrate hard, functional materials on soft substrates. Here we report on engineered elastomeric substrates designed to host stretchable circuitry. Regions of a stiff material, patterned using photolithography, are embedded within a soft elastomer leaving a smooth surface. We present the associated design rules to produce stretchable circuits based on experimental as well as modeling data. We demonstrate our approach with thin-film electronic materials. The "customized" elastomeric substrates may also be used as a generic elastic substrate for stretchable circuits prepared with alternative technologies, such as transfer-printing of inorganic, thinned devices. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4799653]