Flexible Electronics: Materials and Designs for Wirelessly Powered Implantable Light-Emitting Systems

1. Rak-Hwan Kim^1,†, 
2. Hu Tao^2,†, 
3. Tae-il Kim^1,†,
4. Yihui Zhang³, 
5. Stanley Kim¹, 
6. Bruce Panilaitis², 
7. Miaomiao Yang², 
8. Dae-Hyeong Kim⁴, 
9. Yei Hwan Jung¹, 
10. Bong Hoon Kim^1,5,
11. Yuhang Li^3,6, 
12. Yonggang Huang³, 
13. Fiorenzo G. Omenetto^2,*, 
14. John A. Rogers^1,7,*

Article first published online: 17 SEP 2012

DOI: 10.1002/smll.201290099

A stretchable, microscale inorganic light-emitting diode (μ-ILED) with an integrated coil for wireless power delivery is described F. G. Omenetto, J. A. Rogers, and co-workers on page 2812. The ultrathin layout of the μ-ILED, the serpentine structures in the metal traces, and the rubber substrate combine to provide a system that can be deformed to large levels of strain. Detailed studies of the mechanics reveal the underlying design principles. The physical characteristics and constituent materials enable its use as an implantable light source, as illustrated through in vivo studies using animal models.