Flexible Material Makes For Stretchy Electronics

It looks like the dream of flexible and stretchy electronics will come true sometime in the semi-near future. A group of scientists at the University of Tokyo have recently developed a material that both conducts electricity and is made of a rubbery material that can be stretched to more than twice its size.

Once the material is stretched, it will bounce back to its normal size without affecting its conductivity. And in case you were wondering, this material is made from single wall carbon nanotubes, elastic resin and an ionic liquid. Yeah, try saying all of that ten times fast.

So just how could something like this be used? Why in robotics, of course. The scientist's say it could be especially useful in curved areas like robotic arm joints.

[via Gearlog]