Wearable Screens? Researchers Develop Stretchy, Color-Changing Display

Wearable technology may have taken a leap forward with the development of a stretchy, color-changing display by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC). This flexible display promises to be a game-changer in various industries, from healthcare to packaging.

Real-time Reversible Color Change Features

The device, created by Claire Preston as part of her master's program in electrical and computer engineering at UBC, offers real-time and reversible color change capabilities.

What sets this display apart is its impressive stretchability, which allows it to expand up to 30% without compromising its performance. Furthermore, the team claims that the manufacturing process is cost-effective, making it an attractive option for widespread use.

Traditionally, creating stretchable displays has been a complex endeavor, resulting in stretchability and optical quality limitations. However, the UBC researchers found a solution by utilizing electrochromic displays, which can change color reversibly while consuming low power.

Preston explained, "We used PEDOT:PSS, an electrochromic material that consists of a conductive polymer combined with an ionic liquid, resulting in a stretchable electrode that acts as both the electrochromic element and the ion storage layer."

The display itself is transparent and has a texture similar to a rigid rubber band. The team incorporated a solid polymer electrolyte and a stretchable encapsulation material called styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) to ensure its durability and prevent breakage.

This combination enables the thin layers of PEDOT to elongate without compromising the display's functionality.

Potential Applications

The potential applications for this stretchable display are vast. In the realm of wearable devices, it could be integrated into biometric monitoring systems, providing real-time visual feedback on vital signs.

Furthermore, the display could find its way into robotics, enabling robots to interact more intuitively with humans by displaying information on their "skin," according to senior author Dr. John Madden, an electrical and computer engineering professor who supervised the work.

The team added that due to its low power consumption and cost-effectiveness, this technology holds great appeal for disposable applications. Medical indicator patches and smart packaging labels for fragile shipments stand to gain significant advantages from the real-time visual feedback provided by this display.

Moreover, the fashion industry could exploit this technology to dynamically alter the color of clothing items like jackets and hats, introducing a captivating element of personalization.

While further work is necessary to integrate this innovative device into everyday products, Dr. John Madden, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at UBC and senior author of the study, believes that this breakthrough brings us closer to flexible and stretchable displays.

"While there is need for more work to integrate this device into everyday devices, this breakthrough brings us one step closer to a future where flexible and stretchable displays are a common part of our daily lives," Madden said in a statement.

The team's findings were published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.