Adhesion and cyclic stretching of Au thin film on poly(dimethyl-siloxane) for stretchable electronics

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the effects of cyclic damage and adhesion on nanoscale Au thin films deposited on a flexible poly(dimethyl-siloxane) substrate. The deformation and cracking mechanisms are elucidated as functions of film thickness. The implications of the results are also discussed for the design of stretchable electronic structures.