Insects powered by flexible organic electronics

11-Mar-2016 - Germany

The goal of the partners in the Project flex+ Open Innovation, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the Zwanzig20 (“Twenty20”) Partnership for Innovation program, is to transfer the enormous potential of flexible electronics into applications. Through the “Insect Project”, they aim to communicate the advantages of flexible electronics and spark ideas for new products.

In the framework project flex+ Open Innovation a common strategy to tap the market for flexible electronics is developed. An Open Innovation network with players from industry, science, politics and society is established to promote close collaboration between partners toward new applications.

The “Insect Project” at LOPEC 2016 demonstrates the high functional potential of the technology and its feasibility. It is highlighting a range of functionalities without indicating any particular product. This overall concept designed by Mareike Gast and Kathi Stertzig is based on a diverse and fascinating class of species – insects whose characteristics were implemented technologically to let your imagination run free.

The ”Night Fly” is adorned with a luminous pattern. To implement it, Fraunhofer FEP processed OLED on flexible substrates and finished it graphically with screen-printing in a second step. The three-dimensional body of this fly is formed through a simple sticking together with an additional film. “The curved shape of the head and wing parts impressively demonstrates the flexibility of OLEDs”, explains fascinated Christian Kirchhof, flex+ project coordinator from Fraunhofer FEP. “Extremely thin conductors are provided for electrical contacts that simultaneously serve as structural supports for the fly.”

Fraunhofer IAP has developed a „Moon Moth“ in the „Insect Project“. The moth uses a unique folding and paper lamination. The wire pattern shines through paper. “In "Moon Moth" two technologies of flexible electronics are combined”, explains Dr. Armin Wedel from Fraunhofer IAP.

Let luminous and light “insects” enchant you and captivate you in the world of flexible organic electronics!