Stretchable light-emitting electrochemical cells fabricated by spray-coating

Abstract

Intrinsically stretchable emissive devices that are thin, lightweight and low-cost are highly desired for, e.g., wearable electronics, where they can enable facile communication and interaction with, and adaptability to, dynamic environments. The light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC) is a candidate for the fulfillment of these challenging requirements, since its robust and air-stabile device architecture renders it a good fit for cost-efficient, ambient-air printing and coating fabrication of intrinsically stretchable thin-film device architectures. Here, we report on the design and pioneering fabrication of such an intrinsically stretchable LEC by non-interrupted spray-coating under ambient air and show that such an optimized, and potentially low-cost, thin-film LEC can deliver uniform light emission from a lightweight device architecture even at 30% lateral elongation.