This book gives an excellent introduction to flexible electronics, which refers to the science and technology of using flexible materials for manufacturing electronic circuits and optoelectronic devices. Flexible electronics enables wrapping devices into desired shapes and allows compact and efficient layouts to be created. It is considered the next generation of microelectronics, very promising for practical applications in wearable products. The authors present a comprehensive review of the field, aiming to understand this advanced science and engineering paradigm, which has enormous potential.
The book comprises 10 chapters, which provide a detailed introduction of flexible electronics with typical materials and devices. Chapter 1 presents an overview of flexible electronics based on carbon nanotubes. Chapter 2 introduces various nanomaterial-based flexible sensors. Chapter 3 reviews the synthesis, properties, and applications of graphene in flexible electronics. Chapter 4 goes into high-performance flexible electronic circuits by integrating nanowires such as IV, II–VI, and III–V semiconducting nanowires. Chapter 5 focuses on electronic and optoelectronic devices based on graphene for high-frequency electronics and THz technology.
Chapter 6 is concerned with the design of nanostructures for flexible energy conversion and storage, including photovoltaic cells, lithium-ion batteries, and supercapacitors. Chapter 7 deals with next-generation flexible solar cells, such as dye-sensitized, organic, and perovskite solar cells. Chapter 8 illustrates flexible solar cells, with an emphasis on inorganic, organic, and organic–inorganic solar cells. Chapter 9 covers recent advances in fiber supercapacitors based on various nanostructures. Chapter 10 discusses flexible electronic devices based on electrospun microfibers and nanofibers with stretchable behaviors. References are listed at the end of the chapters, and multiple indexes are provided at the end of the book.
This book provides a detailed and comprehensive introduction to flexible electronics based on advanced materials. Most of the materials that are extensively studied today are discussed, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, typical semiconductors (e.g., Si, Ge, GaAs, ZnO, TiO2, and InGaZnO) and organics. From there, flexible thin-film transistors, memories, electronic circuits, light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, solar cells, supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and sensors can be fabricated by elaborately designed techniques, most of which are discussed in detail. The book is neither too advanced nor too simple, and is useful as a reference source of materials and devices. The comprehensive summary and review of the published results in the field are remarkably helpful and vital for further developments.
I recommend this book to all interested in flexible electronics, particularly those engaged in the field. It is written at a level appropriate to researchers with a chemistry, physics, electronics, optical, materials, or device background. It is also a good book for advanced undergraduate and graduate students.
Reviewer: Jianguo Lu of Zhejiang University, China.
