The days of folding your tablet or phone to fit in a purse or small pocket are approaching fast with the unveiling of foldable electronics. Unlike bendable substrate-based flexible electronics, foldable electronics rely on foldable substrates that come with a very stable electricity conductor that can withstand folding. It means that the conductor embroiled on the substrate must also be foldable.

foldable-electronics

Researchers have already considered a paper as the ultimate foldable substrate to replace plastic substrates since it is cheap, versatile and can be rolled up.

In the past, there has been positive progress in several foldable electronic applications. For instance, researchers in nanotechnology have already been successful making foldable paper batteries powered by algae as well as printing solar cells on paper.

Perhaps one of the most promising paths for foldable electronics is the use of graphene circuits based on paper substrates. Researchers have been able to fabricate foldable graphene circuits for use in electronics.

Graphene is the ideal candidate for foldable devices since it has an inimitable combination of properties that make it ideal for making unique conductive ink since it is chemically stable, mechanically flexible and suitable in conducting electricity. An Inkjet-printable ink made from graphene will lead to cheap and scalable path towards real-world technologies.

foldable electronics

The creation of a high performance foldable battery and the development of graphene based electronic circuits means that future electronics will be flexible. Manufactures will now design gadgets differently since they will now be foldable or rollable. Screen will now be bendable around corners and computers will be wearable. Electronics will be paper thin and exceptionally light. Giant electronic manufacturers such as Nokia and Samsung have invested a lot in research and development of foldable electronics and have already demonstrated a lot of success in this field.

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Nokia Investing in Grapgene

Recently, Nokia (NYSE:NOK) was awarded a $1.35 billion funding for its activities in graphene in the next ten years. These activities are mostly research that aims at developing applications from the ‘wonder material’ that are tipped to change the world. European Union gave out the grant in line with its mission, which is to promote research in high risk areas, offset by the likelihood of a breakthrough which will have a high impact in technology or the social world.

The Finnish mobile-phone maker is a member of the Graphene Flagship Consortium that brings together 74 industry leaders from the private sector as well as academia who want to improve the world with graphene.

Graphene is thin, extremely light, flexible and resilient. This makes ideal for numerous applications. Nokia has a very clear plan for graphene. The company intends to develop mobile phones that are fully flexible and exceptionally light (foldable electronics). Since 2006, Nokia has been working on graphene. It has identified areas in which graphene can be applied to develop live-changing applications. For instance, graphene transistors, which can be manufactured in almost microscopic sizes, would enable the company to make a new generation of electronics with improved features such as smaller sizes and significant weight reductions. Nokia has been making positive progress and this grant will accelerate its developments. Moreover, given that this revolutionary material carries with high stakes, the effect of Nokia’s research could give Europe a much needed edge against similar research by rivals from Asia and North America.

foldable electronics

Nokia realizes the advantage that graphene comes with as well as its effects in revolutionizing the world of mobile phone technology and even beyond. In 2008, Nokia unveiled the ‘Morph’, a mobile phone built on the concept of flexibility and nanotechnology. Made from graphene, the ‘Morph’ is capable of changing into many shapes. Nokia is also researching on the use of graphene to coat electronic devices to make them completely waterproof and impervious to fingerprints. In addition, the company is also studying the possibility of creating television screens from graphene which are flexible and foldable, just like posters.

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