Graphene for Flexible Electronic Devices

Flexible electronics offer an advanced approach for applications in smart flexible and stretchable devices, including energy harvesting devices, bioinspired devices, sensors, and logic devices. In the quest for advanced materials, nanostructured graphene-based wearable devices, electronic skin (E-skin), portable energy storage, bioelectronics, and harvesting devices are envisaged for futuristic next-generation smart applications. Graphene has advanced electronic properties with zero bandgap energy and outstanding mechanical properties, which provide a platform for the development of stretchable and flexible devices. In addition, it has high optical transmission efficiency for the fabrication of transparent electrodes, higher order of carrier mobilities, touch panels, transistors operating at high frequencies, logic circuits, tactile sensors, and higher sensitivity to piezoresistive response. High Young’s modulus and sufficient tolerance level of mechanical bending make graphene the most apposite for the development of flexible sensors with high adhesion energy to the substrate. Printing electronics on flexible substrates and development of robust, highly stable, and defect-free transfer and etching techniques of the chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-produced graphene films are the most effective technologies in place currently. In this chapter on graphene-based flexible and stretchable electronic devices, mechanical properties in relation to flexible electronic devices, polymer flexible substrates for stretchable electronics, graphene-growth techniques, and subsequent printing and transfer technologies have been discussed.